LABOUR JOINS WITH DEMOCRAT PARTI.

Auckland Star, Volume LXVII, Issue 149, 25 June 1936, Page 7

LABOUR JOINS WITH DEMOCRAT PARTI.

PLATFORM PLANK. Curb on Supreme Court Power in U.S.A. NULLIFYING CONGRESS ACTS. United Pres§ Association.—Copyright. (Received 12 noon.) PHILADELPHIA, June 24. / While the Democratic Convention had a routine three-liour day session, at Avhich nothing Avas done, the Resolution Committee held a avcllattended public session, at Avhich a Avide variety of interests asked inclusion in the platform planks they sponsored. The requests ranged from safeguards for insurance companies to amendment of the Constitution fixing a two-thirds vote of the Supreme Coifl t as necessary for nullification of Acts of Congress. This, Avhich Avas by far the most interesting proposal brought before the committee, came from President William Green, of the American Federation of Labour, which advocated the step because "the decision of the Supreme Court declaring laAvs invalid by a mere majority vote has created a most unfavourable impression and aroused widespread dissatisfaction, particularly among the workers of the nation." It is not considered likely that the committee will adopt this plank. For that matter, the public hearings are only designed to placate groups avlio Avish an opportunity to be vocal. The platform, virtually in its final form as accepted bj' Mr. Roosevelt, is believed already to be drawn up. This is expected to be ratified by convention on Friday, clearing the way for nominations on Saturday Avith the acceptance speech by Mr. Roosevelt immediately thereafter. He Avill particularise the issues on which he plans to fight the campaign. Republicans Criticise^. When the proceedings Avere resumed Mr. A. W. Barkley, one of Kentucky's representatives in the Senate, delivered a speech which occupied two and a half hours. Mr. Barkley criticised all the Republicans' charges against the Democrats' policy and the New Deal. It is interesting to note that no single item was more emphasised by the speaker than the question of trade agreements. "The Republican platform proposes to repeal all trade agreements and the laAv under which they Avere negotiated," said Mr. Barkley. "The hypocrisy and insincerity of those Avho framed, and noAv accept, that pronouncement are revealed in all their nakedness Avhen Ave recall that under no less than tAvo past Republican Administrations similar authority was conferred upon Republican Presidents, and no less than 10 of such trade agreements were entered into Avithout ratification by the Senate. "What do the Republicans offer as substitute out of the depths of their OAvn political and intellectual bankruptcy? Nothing more nor less, than another stroke of commercial apoplexy in the clinic of the Sinoot-Hawlev tariffs."