PROMPTER’S SPEECH.

Manawatu Times, Volume XLVIII, Issue 2393, 11 June 1924, Page 7

PROMPTER’S SPEECH.

RECORD OF REPUBLICANS REVIEWED. ‘ THREE shaky planks in PLATFORM. third party menace. [By Electric Cable— Copyright.] [Aust. and N.Z. Cable Association.] (Received Tuesday, 7 p.m.) NEW YORK. June 10. 4.U Cleveland, Representative Burton, temporary chairman of the Republican National Convention, delivered a keynote speech. For the firs time women participated in the convention, four hundred being delegates and alternates. The speaker reviewed tho record o thp Republican Admlnist.ation, lay ng stiess 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 or foreign debts. He regretted the enforcing of Japanese exclusion without living 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 1 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 clamed the war for weakening the moral fibre of certain portions of officialdom. He condemned tfhird party movements, and insisted that the people had confidence in President Coolidge. He said the United Stoics would not join the League of Nations, but when the time was ripe, another Arms Conference would be called. He recommended participation in the World Courfi. 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 Borah and Lowden have declined the honour. The late President Harding’s 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. Tho “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 th e SoutQiern 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', usual excitement prevails, despite the fact that the chief issue has already been long decided. President Coolidgo's choice for the

Presidency Is a foregone conclusion, but the third party’s prospects hang like a black shadow. Senator Lafollette has made an open therat, and the silence of the other P.adicals and progressive leaders is even more disturbing. The irreconcilable Senatorial leaders are sulking in their tents. Lafoliette, Johnston and Borah have all declined to attend the Convention. The Repub. Mean 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. Beep and perplexing questions are involved in this. The choice of the Vice-Presidential candidate, which in previous Conventions has been a slight and unimportant matter, has now become a serious affair. The present aspirants for office would easily grace the Presidency itself.