U.S. DEMOCRATIC PARTY

Press, Volume LXXXIV, Issue 25547, 15 July 1948, Page 5

U.S. DEMOCRATIC PARTY

Platform Agreed On At Convention SENATOR PEPPER WITHDRAWS - (N.Z. Press Association—Copyright) > (Rec. 8.30 p.m.) NEW YORK, July 13. The nomination of Senator Alben W. Barkley (Kentucky) as*the Democratic Party’s Vice-Presidential candidate became virtually certain to-day, when Mr J. Howard McGrath, the party’s national chairman, announced that Mr Truman would be “most happy” to have Senator Barkley as a running mate for the November election. Senator Barkley refuses to say whether he will accept the nomination, but it is thought that an overwhelming majority of the delegates will support the move to draft him on to the Democratic ticket.

The Truman forces were strengthened to-day when Senator Claude Pepper announced his withdrawal as eP candidate for the Presidential nomination. He said he would support any candidate named by the convention. His campaign manager said that Senator Pepper’s decision was motivated by his desire not to be identified with any breakaway by the southern states from the Democratic Party. Apart from the civil rights issue, the party’s platform committee has agreed 'on practically all the party’s planks. These provide for:— (1) Repeal of the Taft-Hartley Labour Act, which was passed by the Republicans against the Presidential veto, and which the platform committee says has failed. (2) Continued support for the United Nations and efforts to accomplish a curtailment of the Big Five veto power. (3) Maintenance of an “adequate” Army, Navy, and Air Force. (4) “Sound humanitarian administration” of the Marshall plan. (5) Reaffirmation of the United States’ recognition of the State of Israel, with a pledge of “appropriate aid” in developing Israel’s economy and resources. The committee also advocates revision of the arms embargo to give Israel its rights of self-defence. (6) Comprehensive housing legislation and continuation of rent control until adequate housing is provided. (7) Reduction of taxes whenever possible without endangering the national economy—especially for low income families. (8) Halting of price rises brought about by “the Republican Congress’s failure to take effective action on Mr Truman’s recommendations for controlling inflation.” (9) Restoration of the reciprocal trade agreements programme, and adherence to the International Trade Organisation. After several hours of debate, the platform committee finally adopted a middle-of-the-road civil rights plank, which stated: “The Democratic Party commits itself to continue its effort to eradicate all racial, religious, and economic discrimination. We again state our belief that racial and religious minorities have the right to live, work, and vote, and to the full and equal protection of the law on a basis of equality with all citizens, as guaranteed by the Constitution. We again call on Congress to exercise its full authority to the limits of the Constitution to assure and protect these rights.” A Southern attempt to weaken the plank by depleting the last paragraph was defeated, as was an effort to write a strong “states’ rights” clause to weaken Federal authority under the civil rights plank. DOLLARS SPENT BY AUSTRALIA MORE CUTS MAY BE NECESSARY MR CHIFLEY’S TALKS IN LONDON (Rec. 9 p.m.) CANBERRA. July H. Although Australia had planned her dollar budget for the coming year, it might be necessary to revise it in the light of Mr Chifley’s London talks, said the Acting-Federal Treasurer (Mr J. J. Dedman) to-day. “We have emphasised how tight the dollar position is,” said Mr Dedman. “There is no guarantee that it will not get worse. The basic factor in the dollar situation is that our dollar expenditure is roughly twice our dollar earnings.” He added that Mr Chifley during his mission to London had failed to obtain for Australia any relief in dollar restriction. but instead had found Britain’s dollar shortage so severe that Australia might have to make another slash in her imports from dollar areas. STABILISATION OF WHEAT PRICES AUSTRALIAN GROWERS ACCEPT SCHEME (Rec. 7 p.m.) CANBERRA, July 14. The Australian Wheatgrowers’ Federation has accepted the new Commonwealth scheme to stabilise the price of wheat for five years ending on June 30. 1953, and covering both export and home consumption prices. The scheme empowers the Commonwealth to fix a minimum guaranteed price of 6s 3d a bushel, freight on rail, for the first 100,000,000 bushels each year, and it allows the States to fix the same minimum price for wheat consumed in Australia.