U.S.A. PRESIDENCY

Greymouth Evening Star, 16 July 1940, Page 8

U.S.A. PRESIDENCY

DEMOCRAT CONVENTION ■ / ROOSEVELT’S THIRD TERM ? [by CABLE —PRESS ASSN. —COPYRIGHT.] CHICAGO, July 14. It is regarded as a foregone conclusion to-night that the Democratic Convention, which opens to-morrow, will offer a renomination for the Presidency to Mr Roosevelt. It is also widely believed that he will accept, but the Postmaster-General (Mr J. J. Farley) insists that his name will be submitted regardless of Mr Roosevelt’s decision. Mr Farley indicated that he will refuse to direct a third-term campaign, and instead, will retire from the Cabinet and from the chairmanship of the Democrat National Committee.

The Speaker of the House of Representatives (Mr W. B. Bankhead) will make an important speech tomorrow night. The Convention will consider its platform on July 17, and the ballots for the Presidential nomination will take place on July 18. PRESIDENT’S POPULARITY. (Received July 16, 12.25 p.m.) CHICAGO, July 15. The Roosevelt third-term bandwagon got off to a rolling start. Within 10 minutes of the opening of the convention, the Mayor (Mr. Kelly) mentioned Mr. Roosevelt’s name, touching off' the first floor demonstration. AGGRESSORS DENOUNCED. (Recd. July 16, 1.50 p.m.) CHICAGO, July 15. Mr Bankhead gave the keynote for the Convention, when he said: “We are assembled .at the most fateful moment in the history of mankind. A sinister shadow of cruel, savage despotism hangs like a pall of doom over the super-democratic liberty-loving peoples. Already the juggernaut of physical force and brutal power has laid a blighting hand on freedom and sovereignty. Eight small defenceless nations, and now France, lie in agony in the ashes of totalitarian destruction. Britain stands alone against the hurricane of the blitzkreig. Now Hitler and Mussolini have sworn her total annihilation; also eternal enmity to all the so-called decadent democracies, which includes us. If overwhelming American sentiment should be expressed, would we not only hold the deepest sympathy with Britain, but should furnish every possible material assistance short of war, also we should resist to the death any compromise of democratic principles—that we do not appease the aggressors.

ARMY CONTRACTS

(Recd. July 16,-11.25 a.m.) WASHINGTON, July 15.

The Army has issued contracts for 627 2-ton tanks, equipped with 30/50 calibre machine-guns and one 37 millimetre cannon, to cost 11,000 000 dollars. Three thousand tanks, the largest weighing 18 tons, have been ordered. It is planned to purchase 300 more, including several weighing from 30 to 70 tons.