ROOSEVELT’S VOTE.

Star (Christchurch), Volume XLIV, Issue 492, 29 June 1932, Page 1

ROOSEVELT’S VOTE.

| Does Not Command Required Majority. PRESIDENTIAL NOMINATION. United Press Assn.—By Electric Telegraph—Copyright. (Received June 29, 8.40 a.m.) CHICAGO, June 28. The rules of the last Democratic Convention requiring a two-thirds majority for nomination vvere adopted by the Rules. Committee to-day after a compromise Avas cast aside. The comI promise Avould ha\-e abrogated the two- ! thirds rule if a deadlock obtained after j six ballots. I The Roosevelt movement shoAved its full strength for the first time, Avhen on the convention floor it was able to command 514 votes upon a resolution to seat a contesting delegation from Louisiana. This delegation was pledged to vote against Roosevelt’s nomination. The con\*ention under its rules adopts resolutions by a simple majority, but nominates its Presidential candidate only by a tw’o-thirds majority, thus, while the Roosevelt forces were able to defeat the seating of the Louisiana delegation, Avhich was unfavourable to him, the vote taken showed that thus far he commands only 638 delegates and he needs 770 for nomination. The second test came on the seating of a contesting delegation from Minnei sota with circumstances similar to those ! of Louisiana. The Roosevelt forces Avere again successful in registering their strength at 658 votes. Then once more the Roosevelt and anti-Roose-velt factions clashed, this time over the choice of chairman of the convention, the former asking for the resignation of Senator Walsh and the latter group offering Mr Jouette Shouse, of Kentucky. A speaker on behalf of Senator Walsh recounted his work in the investigation of the oil scandals and cried: ‘‘ln a foreign country he would be knighted for his services." After an hour’s wrangling a vote was taken. Walsh got 625 votes and Mr Shouse 528. Senator Walsh Avas escorted to the platform, where he was cheered. Thus far the Democrats have lived up to all expectations. They have disagreed on every possible question, even, apparently, the simple one of choice of presiding officer. Senator Walsh was much greyer and older than when he presided over the drawn-out convention in 1924. He began his address to-day by outlining the problems facing the nation, but .the delegates who had had no luncheon began to leave the stadium when the dinner hour was already approaching. The convention then adjourned until noon to-morrow.