PARTY PLATFORM

Evening Post, Volume CXIII, Issue 142, 17 June 1932, Page 7

PARTY PLATFORM

PEOHIBITION PLANK

CONVENTION DIVIDED

(Beceived 17th June, 8 a,m.)

' CHICAGO, 16th; June. After • a-stormy <night session lasting until .after 1 o'clock.on Thusday morning the Convention, by 672 to 471, defeated- a minority, committee's report, embodying^ the so-called "repeal" Prohibition plank, w Then a viva voce yote adopted the committee's platf ormj including "the • so-called "submission" plank the leading of which -by the chairman,/ Mr. Garfleld,was continually interrupted by jeers*and'boos, apparently mostly from:-the galleries- and the delegations of various "wef' States, including - New York, : Illinois, and Nevada, Others' staged a parade for repeal. Amid scuffles of - several delegations where preference was divided, the ■'' wets "attempted to carry the State banner, into, the Convention. The galleries became more unruly with cries: "We want-repeal. No "bunk." Prolonged . cheering followed the organs playing such tunes as "How dry I am," which was Al. Smith's> campaign sone in 1928. ■'•■■■ : ; .

The Chair limited the debate on Prohibition to two hours, one to each of the repealists and Bubmissionists. ' Dr. Butler and Senator Bingham led the repeal attack, demanding that the people shouldhave the right to vote "Yes" or "No" on Prohibition. Mr. Ogden Mills and other Hboverites pleaded for party harmony and the acceptance of the committee's report; The Convention then adjourned late on Thursday morning. The remainder of the business was largely routine. General Dawes's rerefusal to accept the "Vice-Presidential seat virtually assured the re-nomination of Senator' Curtis'. COMMITTEE'S EXPORT. As presented by the Resolutions Committee the Prohibition plank .advocates the .prompt submission of Congress of a new amendment'toi the States which, if ratified by three-fourths of the Statesman special popular constitutional Convention, will permit each State to-handle the liquor traffic as it chooses; the Federal Government pledging itself to protect "dry" States against liquor infiltration from outside.

The platform expresses opposition to currency inflation; advocates an international conference on silver and extension' of the tariff to further primary products; recommends American entrance to the World Court; expresses the hope that the Geneva Conference ■will effect a general limitation of armaments; and advocates strong, measures against crime, particularly the activities of "kidnappers, racketeers, and gangsters." The efforts of President Hoover and the Administration to combat the economic depression were outlined in the platform, which noted with approval the setting-up of agencier by the Government to deal with conditions and the need for revision of the banking laws to place the banking structure on a sounder basis. It mentioned the work

of the Farm Board and praised the national policy of land utilisation which looks to national needs. .

The platform favoured "settlement of international difficulties by conciliation and method of law and the limitation of war as a resort of national policy, which has been and will be our party programme."

BEHIND THE SCENES

POWER OF PRESIDENT

ADMINISTRATION FORCES

[Received 17th June, 11 a.m.)

CHICAGO, 16th June.

On every point the Administration forces have ruled the Republican Convention. Only upon one.issue was there ever a serious threat ■ of revolt, and that was whether the party should declare for the repeal of the Eighteenth Amendment. . ■

The question was .thrown back into Congress on Wednesday night by the President's plank asking that body to submit an amendment to the States to be acted upon by the State Conventions. The vote supporting the plank as against the straight repeal proposition of Senator Bingham was 681 to 472. ..■■.- ■ . •

During the discussion the spectators booed and jeered. Some delegates pranced in the aisles waving beer steins and some tried to seize State standards for a parade, but there was no stampede. Mr. Bertran Snell, the big-voiced, bigshouldered chairman, Mr. Ogden Mills, Secretary of the Treasury, the Sergeant, and the Chicago police were too much for the noisy, thirsty crew supporting Dr. Nicholas Butler, president of Columbia "University, and Senator Bingham. '

The whole Hooverian platform proposed safe and conservative matters in such general terms as to give a wide discretion to the executive arm.

When, as was expected, President Hoover and; Mr. Curtis were re-jiomi-nated, the'triumph of Hooverism m the party. was regarded as complete. ' The Eepublican strategists, says an observer, may congratulate themselves on obtaining such cohesion after three years' hard tim«. Many -observers are asking, whether the docility of the Eepublican rank and file is not a pro- | duct of fear for .tie November election, whether they have not clutched the President's coat tails, because of their uncertainty as to their own political fates. ■. .-. . '.-... .■■;■■"

. The Administration Prohibition plank declares for law enforcement, condemns referenda, -deprecates partisan consideration of the issue, opposes submission confined to retention or repeal and concludes:—:

"We therefore believe the people should have the opportunity to pass upon a proposed amendment a provision of which, while retaining in the Federal Government the power to preserve the gains already made in dealing with the evils inherent in the liquor traffic, shall allow States to deal with the problem, as their citizens may determine, but subject .always to the power of the Federal Government to protect those • States' where Prohibition may exist and safeguard our citizens everywhere from a return to the saloon and and its attendant abuses. Such an amendment should be properly submitted to the ■ States'by Congress to .be acted upon'by State Conventions, called for that sole purpose in accordance with the provisions of Article Five of the Constitution and adequately safeguarded so as to be truly representative." • , '■•■ The rejected Bingham substitute called for immediate re-submission of Prohibition to State Conventions fpr retention qr advocating State liquor control in. the event of repeal. •••; "'ln contrast with the 1928 platform' declaration there was no mention of war debts in the present platform. The 1928 platform declared: "We have steadfastly opposed ana ; will continue to oppose the cancellation of foreign debts."