U.S. CONVENTION

Hawke's Bay Tribune, Volume XXII, Issue 154, 15 June 1932, Page 7

U.S. CONVENTION

REPUBLICAN DEMONSTRATION WET AND DRY ISSUES. GROWING POWER OF WOMEN. (United Press Association—’By CableCopyright.) (Received 15, 11.40 a.m.) Chicago, June 14. At the convention stadium the Republican National Convention opened to the music of ‘ ‘ Dixie ’ ’ played by the largest pipe organ in the _world and capable of a volume equivalent to 2000 band instruments. When it roared no human voice could make itself heard. The day’s business at the convention, from the opening prayer through the organisation of delegates and Senator Dickinson’s eulogistic speech on President Hoover, was, however, of an extremely rousing character. The Republicans lived up strictly to the tradition of a well managed gathering. Two deeply controversial matters still remain unsettled; namely, the wording of the prohibition plank and whether Mr. Curtis will be retained as vice-president.

One was compelled to seek trends away from the main trend for vital meanings in this convention. The vital meanings are interesting enough and not wholly missing—the position of women, for example. For the first time since women gained the suffrage they have begun to play a commanding part in the political struggle. It is no secret that hitherto male Republican politicians gave women—and the lattei were quite content therewith—only decorative roles. They were placed on various committees but their real power was small. Many of them at this convention have been ousted from their seemingly important but really' innocuous positions. For instance, Mrs. Yost (West Virginia) and Mrs. Miller (Michigan)— veteran women Republicans —have been removed from their State committees. But this is the first convention in which women are actually doing the work of leaders. The dry forces are waging a losing fight here but they are being ably and militantly led bv such women as Mrs. Boole, of the W.C.T.U. The wet forces of the Republican Party, which hitherto have had no women leadership, are here powerfully and actively supported by Mesdames Pratt and Sebin, of New York, two wealthy women delegates who, moreover, conducted a very able pre-con-vention repeal fight throughout the country.

Miss Adams descended upon Chicago to-day with women delegates from the International League of Peace from every State and staged a demonstration calling for an expression by the convention on the question of armaments. She is a figure able to command the highest respect and is acknowledged to be the most distinguished woman in the United States. Finally, a Communist demonstration which was held a short distance from the convention stadium under police surveillance was led by a negro woman, who vigorously harangued her followers.

The convention session lasted only about an hour and adjourned until tomorrow, when the platform will be approved. The nominations occur on Thursday, after which the convention will bo adjourned sine die. SENATOR’S SPEECH. (Received 15, 8.30 a.m.) Chicago, June 14. In a speech that was entirely silent on prohibition, the Republican. National Convention on Tuesday was told by Senator Dickinson, of lowa, that President Hoover had prevented financial panic in the United States, maintained social order, mitigated unemployment distress and preserved the international financial structure. Mr. Dickinson defended all the Republican policies. In these distressing times, he said, there was just one bulwark of salvation for the United States and that was the Hawley-Smoot Tariff Act. Mr. Dickinson spoke in the red, white and blue auditorium at Chicago to the accompaniment of cheers from thousands of delegates and thousands of visitors. For two long years, he said, the Democrats had hampered the President at every turn, belittled his efforts and impugned his motives. They called for inflation whereas the safety of the country required maintenance of the gold standard and maintenance of the value of the dollar. With scorn he pointed out that while the Democrats had inveighed against the Haw-ley-Smoot Act they had generously supported duties on copper, coal, oil and lumber.