AMERICAN LEADER

Manawatu Standard, Volume XLIV, Issue 1039, 11 June 1924, Page 5

AMERICAN LEADER

iCHOOSINQ A CANDIDATE, THE REPUBLICAN CONVENTION, (By Electric Telegraph.—Copyright.) Received June 11, 10.55 a.m. NEW YORK, June 10. With the calling order of the Republican convention to-day began tlie great quatrennial "political « ir c"S. The huge auditorium, seating 14,00 U people, presented a particularly colourful picture, this being due to the great number of women. The convention has been especially large since women delegates began to participate -in • the party's deliberations. Calculated and excellently manoeuvred enthusiasm were in evidence as usual, the presiding official having direct telephonic communication with the brass banda situated in various parts of the auditorium and telephoning directiom t» strike up particular State tunes in order to maintain the proper pitch of feeling among the various groups or, delegates. Nothing actually is done on the spu? 1 of the moment; everything is previ* onsly planned in the smoke-filled lead- ( era'' rooms at the various hotels; but' the outward appearance of democracy's sway is excellently maintained in thi»« present large-scale picture of success-, tul political showmanship. One striking thing is the passing of old-time powerful figures who controlled tho party. This is the day of new namesJ and new combinations, although swayed by the same philosophy. It is little short of astounding to note thepassing of Mr Lodge, who for the past sixteen years was the giant behind the scenes at every convention, and Mr Dougherty, who was directly respon-' sible for the nomination of Mr Harding, and various lesser known hienrwho have retired into limbo. The Ohio delegation, of whiebji Daugherty is a member, declined to» give him the chairmanship. Mi' Lodge* who was the Massachusetts delegation's chairman in the past, is now:. 1 only a simple delegate. The present-! day figures are Congressman BurtonJ President Burton of the Miehigan-Unif* versify, Mr Butler, President Cool* idge's personal manager, and Mr William Stearns, a Boston merchant, who, is President Coolidge's confidential ad-»' viser.

The President is connected with several long-distance telephone wires from Washington and maintains a directive touch with these new forces. Senator Laa Follette and his Wisconsin delegation remains the most bitter irritant in the proceedings here. He has announced that the convention must repudiate the fall of Air Daugherty and must commend the senator with calling the order for his oil investigations and otherwise do things which cannot be done with the maintenance of essential harmony. The struggle over the final form of the platform continues unabated, hut the World Court is tha, question which just now has become*' the major issue.—A. and N.Z. cable*' REPUBLICANS' HOPES. RECORD OF A~DMINISTRATION. NEW YORK, June 10. At Cleveland, Representative Burton, temporary chairman of the Republican National Convention, delivered a keynote speech. For the first time women participated in the convention, 400 being delegates and alternates. The speaker reviewed the record of the Republican Administration, laying stress on the Washington Conference and the tariff, which had brought a revenue of two hundred million dollars more than during any Democratic. Administration, and the funding of foreign debts. He regretted the enforcing of Japanese exclusion without* giving the President time to negotiate with Japan. Farmers had been aided, but the Republican Party could not subscribe to impractical theories. Economy in public expenditure and the reduction of taxation must assume the utmost importance. The speaker hinted at the advocacy of prohibition enforcement and condemning the increasing belief that the Government was a paternalistic institution. He protested against the impression that there was widespread corruption at Washington. The Government blamed the war for weakening the moral fibre of certain portions of officialdom. • He condemned third party movements and insisted that the people had confidence in President Coolidge. He said the United States would not join the League of Nations, but when the time was ripe another Arms Conference would he called. He recommended participation in the World Court,

The Vice-Presidential aspirants include Mr Hoover, Senator Watson (Indiana), General Dawes, ex-Senator Kenyon, Senator Curtis, Governor Hyde (Missouri), Senator Capper, Dr. Burton (president Missouri University), and ex-Senator Beveridge. Senators Bcn-ah and Lowden have declined the honour. The late President Harding'3 death has impressed the need for carefully selecting a Vice-President able to assume the Presidency during an emergency. The party platform has already been written and submitted to President Coolidge, who remains at Washington. Three planks are expected to give great trouble—Prohibition, the Ku Klux Klan, and the World Court. The "wet" element, led by President Butler, of Columbia University, is expected to stage a sharp though ineffective fight to secure a modification of the Volstead law, while the Southern Republicans will ask for an expression of opinion against the Klan. President Coolidge wants the late President Harding's World Court plan, while Republican Senators favour Senator Pepper's. On the eve of the Republican Convention the usual excitement prevails despite the fact that the chief issue has already been long decided. President Coolidge's choice for the Presidency, is a foregone conclusion, but the third party's proposals hang like a black shadow. Senator La Follette has made an open throat, and the silence of the other Radicals and progressive leaders is even more disturbing. . .',. The irreconcilable Senatorial' leaders are sulking in their tents.. .Messrs La Follette, Johnston and Borah have all declined to attend the convention. The Republican leaders fear that the third party may produce a situation where no candidate has a majority in the Electoral College after the election, and the .House of Representatives may be called upon to choose the President. Deep and perplexing questions are involved in this.. The choice of the VicePresidential candidate, which in previous conventions has been a slight and unimportant matter, has now hecomo a serious affair. The present aspirants for office would easily grace the Presidency itself.—A. and N.Z. cable.