Trial Vote Favours Humphrey’s Forces

Press, Volume CVIII, Issue 31769, 28 August 1968, Page 17

Trial Vote Favours Humphrey’s Forces

(N.Z.P. A.-Reuter—Copyright)

CHICAGO, August 27.

Vice-President Hubert Humphrey’s forces won overwhelmingly last night the first trial vote at the Democratic Party’s national convention.

The victory was in a procedural matter, but it did give a clear indication of the delegate strength of the front-runner for the White House nomination.

Supporters of the rival candidate, Senator Eugene McCarthy, sought to delay a series of floor contests over the convention representation of four Southern States. The roll-call vote: 1691 opposed to postponement until today; 875 in favour of a delay.

The vote to proceed at once

with the delegate seating contests represented far more than the 1312 convention majority it will take to name a Presidential nominee. That decision is due tomorrow.

The Democratic policyshapers produced a proposed party platform tailored to a Humphrey campaign for the White House, and thus foretold another clear test of the Vice-President’s support. Senator McCarthy said the platform sharpened the lines of disagreement on Vietnam policy, and vowed to do battle for a peace-line position when the issue reaches the convention floor tonight.

A roll-call on Vietnam policy would provide fipn, clear evidence of delegate positions. Far from the guarded, tumultuous convention scene, Senator Edward Kennedy, last guardian of a fabled political legacy, sought to stand aside from Presidential competition.

As talk of a movement to draft Senator Kennedy swirled through the convention, the Massachusetts senator picked up a telephone and asked the chief draft promoter (Mr Michael Disalle) not

to place his name In Presidential nomination. This was agreed to, but the talk continued.

Complaints By Journalists (N.Z.P.A.-Reuter —Copyright) CHICAGO, Aug. 27. An investigation has been ordered into the alleged clubbing by policemen with nightsticks of several reporters and photographers as they were reporting disturbances during the Democratic Party's national convention in Chicago. The latest alleged attack was reported by an American Broadcasting Company correspondent, Jim Burns, who said a policeman hit his sound assistant on the back with a night-stick and then smasheda SUS9OO lens. Burns added that the police had not told them not to film the event or to work in the area. Several other journalists have alleged similar attacks.