U.S. PRESIDENCY

Hawera Star, Volume XLVII, 13 June 1928, Page 7

U.S. PRESIDENCY

REPUBLICAN CONVENTION. CHOOSING A CANDIDATE. SCENES IN KANSAS CITY. (UNITED PRESS ASSOCIATION—BY ELECTRIC Tt&EGRABH—COPYRIGHT.) (AUSTRALIAN PRESS ASSOCIATION.) NEW YORK, June 31. Nows from Kansas City states ’that •the Republican National Convention opens tihere to-morrow. 'Ostensibly it is The instrument 'whereby democracy indicates its political .convictions, but it. has,, however, all the aspects of a ceremonial spectacle with rites, ritual, music, and oven stone forms of dance, more intimately associated with primitive man. Preparations for ‘this demonstration of polities and eniotions are now complete. The city is literally swathed in bunting with every automobile moving in its streets bearing placards shrilly calling for support for some favourite aspirant for presidential nomination. A hundred street corners are each occupied by a blaring band, either just arrived with some delegation or supplied by ‘the mui'cipal authorities. ■Some 1080’ convention delegates, with as many alternates, are here, or arriving hourly on special trains, bearing also their families, friends and countless politicians only unofficially connected with 'the convention. With the exception of Mr. Kellogg and Mr. Hoover, who will not attend, all the officialdom of Washington 'has lc'ft for Kansas City, and 'there are also '30,000 visitors who have been attracted solely by the spectacle.. It has, moreover, been promised that 50,000 or even 100,000 farmers will march upon the city “to make America safe for ’ ’ and for them a large city park has been turned into a camping ground, although it is pretty •freely surmised that no such horde Can conceivably come from the fields at this time in the spring. Tho 'Convention Hall, which has been just finished for the ceremonies themselves, will hold 12,560 seated and will be more than full. Millions of invisible participants must also be mentioned, for via the radio 40,000,000 people will hear and have described ta them everything that occurs. Senator Borah, America’s gloomiest political prognostieian, summed it all up yesterday in the m'ost. sombre epigram: “The eve of the National Convention is dim with 'the self deceiving twilight of sophistry,” he ©aid.

WOMEN PLAY PROMINENT PART. Women are playing a more prominent part ‘in this convention than in past years. Even if they are still far from dominating the issue's or playing a predominant .part in theehoiee of candidates, they comprise in excess of 40 per cent, of the electorate, but they muster less than ten per cent, of the motivating power behind 'the convention. On social matters the convention is exclusively in the hands of women, and the best idea of their pant, can be gained from the fact that on existing issues they have issued an opinion and between the existing 'candidates they have expressed preference, but they have not offered issues or presented candidates. Prohibition may prove troublesome, but the formula fixed by the last eight year's will probably serve as concerns this question. The platform will undoubtedly declare for law enforcement as it has in the past, and both prohibitionists and anti-prohibition Ms will see what, they wish to see in this plank. MR HOOVER’« CANfMOAiOY. Three persons and one economic group will dominate the gathering. Chief and foremost there is Mr Hoover. It is clear he is stronger to-day than since he became a 'candidate for nomination." 'This, however,- doe's not mean that Ihis nomination is assured, for five times previously in the history of Republican conventions dominating figures have been swept aside 'and compromise nominees chosen. The last instance was in '1920 when Mr. Lowdcn and the late General Wood had to step down before Mr. Harding. Mr. Coolidge’s intentions are closely interwoven with Mr. Hoover’s fate. The former’s renouncement of nomination would hearten Mr. Hoover’s supporters, though possibly insufficient to assure Mr. Hoover "s ascendancy. The President is 'at present on Vacation in the forests at Wisconsin surrounded by a. retinue of some 8.8 persons. He will have much to say whether the Republican platform repudiates or endorses his own past policies and prom iscs to keep them in force under 'his successor. Mr. Mellon is still keeping his own counsel. 'Messrs. Curtis, Watson and L'owden, who*arc using the farmer as an anti-Hoover weapon, s'ny the middle western 'States, which are normally Republican, will vote for Governor 'Smith or any 'other Democratic nominee if Mr. Hoover is chosen. Moreover, they are trying to write in the Republican platform a pl'ank which will declare out for the McNary-'llaughen "Bill for It ho assistance ,of| farmers, despite Mr Coolidgc’s veto. Mr Hoover’s back, ers are offering as a counterpoise a plank endorsing 'Mr. Coolidge’s action, and promising agricultural relief in indefinite terms. The compromise group is 'more interested in party solidarity than in the fortunes of any one 'candidate, and prefer t'o offer agricultural relief in terms of revision of the tariff by putting it up on such products as the farmer sells and down on the products he buys. A later message says that the announcement is made that 'Chairman .Butler, of the Republican National Committee and a close friend of Mr. Hoover, 'lias informed those associated with him that he will vote for Air. Hoover, and that. Air. Mellon ha's indicated a similar intention. Further, that the delegation from Vermont, President 'Coolidgc’s own State, will cast their ballots for Mr. Hoover. From this it is inferred that those closest to the President are discounting the “draft of Coolidgc” movement, and are turning to Afr. Hoover.

MR HOOVER TO SECURE ' NOMINATION. Received 9.35 a.m. to-day. NEW YORK. .Tune 12. A message from Kansas City states that at the opening session of the Republican National Convention to-day it was indicated that Mr. Hoover would secure the presidential nomination at the early ballot, after Mr. Mellon had