The Klanbake convention is a designation given to the 1924 Democratic National Convention held in New York City. The term comes from the heavy participation of members of the Ku Klux Klan within the United States Democratic Party at the convention that year. The 1924 Democratic National Convention, also called the Klanbake was held at the Madison Square Garden in New York City from June 24 to July 9, took a record 103 ballots to nominate a presidential candidate. ... Nickname: The Big Apple Motto: Official website: City of New York Location [[Image:|250px|250px|Location of City of New York, New York]] Location in the state of New York Government Counties (Boroughs) Bronx (The Bronx) New York (Manhattan) Queens (Queens) Kings (Brooklyn) Richmond (Staten Island) Mayor Michael Bloomberg (R... Members of the second Ku Klux Klan at a rally during the 1920s. ... The Democratic Party is one of the two major political parties in the United States. ...

Earlier that year the GOP keeping on the path set by President Harding had promised not to speak against the KKK at the Republican National Convention (RNC), let alone adopt an anti-Klan platform. (Harding was rumored to have joined the Klan himself, though there is very little historical evidence for this.) Now if the Klan could cow the Democrats it would have complete control of both parties. The factual accuracy of this article is disputed. ...

However, their participation was not welcomed and produced an intense and sometimes violent showdown between convention attendees in (among others) the states of Colorado and Missouri, over two major controversies surrounding the organization. Klan delegates are generally believed to have held a narrow majority in the convention over non-Klan delegates, though not enough members to secure a presidential nomination outright.

Presidential nomination

Klan delegates opposed the nomination of New York Governor Al Smith as the Democrat's candidate for president on account of Smith being Catholic. Smith campaigned in opposition to William McAdoo, who had the support of most Klan delegates. The dispute was resolved when McAdoo and Smith both withdrew from the nomination. The Convention then nominated compromise candidate John W. Davis of West Virginia. Al Smith waves to crowds, 1928 Alfred Emanuel Al Smith (December 30, 1873 – October 4, 1944) was Governor of New York, a leading Catholic, and Democratic U.S. presidential candidate in 1928. ... William Gibbs McAdoo (October 31, 1863–February 1, 1941) was a U.S. Senator and United States Secretary of the Treasury. ... John William Davis John William Davis (April 13, 1873 — March 24, 1955) was an American politician and lawyer. ... Official language(s) English Capital Charleston Largest city Charleston Area  - Total  - Width  - Length  - % water  - Latitude  - Longitude Ranked 41st 62,809 km² 210 km 385 km 0. ...

KKK platform plank

The second dispute of the convention revolved around an attempt by non-Klan delegates to condemn the organization for its violence in the Democratic Party's platform. Klan delegates succeeded in defeating the platform plank in a series of floor debates. To celebrate the defeat of the plank, tens of thousands of hooded Klansmen rallied in a field in New Jersey opposite of the convention building. The event was attended by hundreds of Klan delegates to the convention, who burned crosses, urged violence and intimidation against African Americans and Catholics, and attacked effigies of Smith. Official language(s) None defined, English de facto Capital Trenton Largest city Newark Area  - Total  - Width  - Length  - % water  - Latitude  - Longitude Ranked 47th 22,608 km² 110 km 240 km 14. ... For the practice in Europe, please see also Fiery cross Cross lighting is a practice widely associated with the Ku Klux Klan, which burns crosses on hillsides or near the homes of those they wish to intimidate. ...

The plank was defeated by one vote. [1]

Impact

The notoriety of the Klanbake convention and the violence it produced cast a lasting shadow over the Democratic Party's prospects in the 1924 Election and contributed to their defeat by incumbent Republican President Calvin Coolidge. Presidential electoral votes by state. ... John Calvin Coolidge, Jr. ...