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This year, with only one candidate up for nomination, the rule did not matter to anyone. Hence Boss Farley last week took the opportunity to end it. Presumably his purpose was to make sure that in 1940 a recalcitrant Democratic minority would not block the nomination of the man the firm of Roosevelt, Farley & Co. pick to head the New Deal that year. To achieve it, however, he had to deal delicately with a resentful South, which has long regarded the rule as its right to veto candidates. In committee, Southerners put up an argument, were finally brought into line by the promise of a plan to give states representation in future conventions not according to their population, but according to the number of Democratic votes they cast in elections. When the compromise was brought up for adoption by the Convention, the shout of "No" was louder than the shout of "Aye" but Chairman Robinson declared it adopted anyway.
Smith. About the only Convention event not on the Farley program occurred one evening when visitors in the gallery unrolled broad banners proclaiming: "We Are Al Smith Democrats," "We Want Al." In the midst of a floor demonstration of Young Democrats, the Convention stopped and booed. In a moment the gallery was swarming with New Dealers who seized the banners, bloodied the noses of "Al Smith Democrats" in a brief brawl. Police rushed the remnants of the demonstrators from the hall.
Draft Not on the official program either, but well arranged in advance was Boss Farley's adroit use of the Convention to put the screws on Governor Herbert Lehman of New York. Governor Lehman's announced intention to retire from politics would inevitably weaken the Democratic ticket in New York (TIME, June i). Democrats who before going to Philadelphia had never given a thought to Governor Lehman realized, after their arrival, that Governor Lehman and New York's 45 electoral votes might directly concern many hundreds of them who hoped to keep their jobs next January. On the floor Governor Lehman was vigorously wooed whenever he appeared and every mention of his name brought forth a flattering volley of applause. The final persuasion was applied when he made New York's speech seconding the Roosevelt Nomination. The Convention went wild when he took the platform, applauded vigorously, burst into an enthusiastic demonstration when he finished. Placards urging him to run were distributed among all delegations, paraded around the floor under his nose (see p. 11). But Herbert Lehman was not to be so easily won. Mum about his own plans throughout the Philadelphia shindig, he accompanied President Roosevelt afterward to Hyde Park, listened to his great & good friend's prayer that he run for governor a third time, pondered two days before announcing: "I feel that I can no longer resist the pleas of my Party. . . ."