BEDLAM LET LOOSE.

Auckland Star, Volume LV, Issue 151, 27 June 1924, Page 5

BEDLAM LET LOOSE.

CHOOSING PRESIDENTS. POLITICS AND PERSPIRATION. NOISE WINS THE DAY. (By Cable.—rress Association.—Copyright.) (Received 10.30 a.trf.) NEW YORK, June 26. Tlio second day of the Democrat Convontion opened in oppressive heat. The enthusiasm, however, seemed inexhaustible. Senator T. ,T. Walsh, the oil investigator, upon being named permanent chairman, received fifteen minutes' ovation. Delegates, snatching (he Stats i standards from the floor, formed a perspiring Biiukc dance to greet Senator VValeli, while yells, catcalls, shrieks, whistles, and brass bands uttered chaotic approval. A cluster of two dozen radio amplilers seemed to multiply the noise, as ■ their brazen throats trumpeted Senator j Walsh's charges against the Republican Administration. The conclusion of his speech was the signal for a typically unrestrained American political convention demonstration. The delegates were undeterred by a prac- ' tieallv unbearable temperature. H was a holiday for tlio emotions, punctuated by reports of various minor committees. Various factions paraded in regalia and were decorated alarmingly, the heat rendering these acts of homage to their political pets all the more unselfish. Governor Smith's adherents yelled | "Smith!" with exhausting iteration and drowned the frantic , cries of "MeAdool" from that gentleman's supporters. The | Smith faction ultimately regained the upper hand by putting on a croup of perspiring maidens voluminously attired : in the colours of California. The tre- J mendous vigour of tins demonstration exhausted the deputations, who, frazzled with the heat and physical work, retired \ to the pink lemomde saloon, where the whole of the available supplies of mineral water and near beer were instantly consumed. So far the following names have been submitted for nomination us the party's candidate:— Sir. O. W. Underwood, Democrat Leader in the Senate. Mr. C. H. Brough, Governor of Arknnsns. 2dr. William G. MeAdoo, son-in-law of the late President Wilson. Mr. Alfred E. Smith, Governor of the State of New York. Mr. Carter Glass, formerly Secretary of the Treasury in Mr. Wilson's Cabinet. Mr. John W. Davis, formerly United States Ambassador to Britain. Senator Ralston. Senator Robinson. Mr. Fordney Johnson, of Alabama, in moving the nomination of Mr. Underwood, aroused great feeling when ho announced his unalterable opposition to the Ku Klux Klan. lie denounced the intrusion of a secret order for the purpose of intimidating either party into actions at variance with the fundamental ponsl itutional provisions guaranteeing the equality of all races and religions. Fifteen minutes of indescribable chaos ensued. Delegates began a procession through (he aisles, endeavouring to persuade others to join them. The demonstration, when it concluded, had enlisted fully two-thirds of the State delegation, I and many others seemed torn by internal disagreement regarding the attitude of the Klan. Colorado's delegation entered into an open physical battle for the control of the State standard. The latter was destroyed, and, despite a number of casualties, it remained in the possession of the Colorado pro-Klan delegates.—(A. and N.Z.—Renter.)