Reenacting in miniature the scenes of the 1924 convention in New York, the mock Democratic convention last night broke a long deadlock between Governor Smith and former Secretary Baker by nominating Senator Thomas J. Walsh of Montana. The deadlock lasted for eight ballots, but near midnight the rivals gave in and the convention agreed on a compromise candidate. Franklin D. Roosevelt of New York, assistant Secretary of the Navy under President Wilson, was nominated for vice-President on the first ballot.
The convention opened with T. H. Eliot '28, permanent chairman reading telegrams of congratulations from prominent Democrats, those from Baker and Smith drawing great applause.
The platform which was adopted included a plank declaring prohibition was not a partisan issue and that law enforcement was necessary. A wet plank asking for the repeal of the Volstead Act was voted down 801 to 291. Further planks called for the prohibition of injunctions, and condemned American intervention in Nicaragua on behalf of American capitalists. A plank introduced by a Porto Rican delegate calling for independence for Porto Rico was defeated without a record vote
The balloting found Smith and Baker far ahead of the rest of the wide field. On the sixth ballot Baker gained the lead, but lost it on the seventh. After this ballot a conference of state chairmen was held, and two ballots later the deadlock was broken as state after state went for Walsh.
After the nomination, Charles H. McGlue, state Democratic chairman of Massachusetts, spoke briefly, saying that Governor Smith would be nominated and elected.
Tomorrow a Harvard delegation will leave to attend the intercollegiate Democratic convention at Northampton. A bus will leave the Union at 9.30 o'clock, carrying all Harvard men who are able and eager to make the trip. Costs of the round trip will be five dollars and 75 cents.
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