REPUBLICAN PARTY

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume LXVI, 17 June 1932, Page 5

REPUBLICAN PARTY

CONVENTION AT CHICAGO PLATFORM DRAWN UP CONTROVERSIAL PROHIBITION PLANK 'United Press Association—By Electric Telegraph—Copyright) CHICAGO, 15th June. Before the dinner hour the Resolutions Committee of the Republican Convention announced that the party platform would include a controversial Prohibition plank, which will be opposed by the wet forces on the floor of the convention. The plank advocates the prompt submission by Congress of a new amendment to tile States, which if ratified by three-fourths thereof in special popular constitutional conventions, w.ll permit each State to handle 1 the liquor traffic as it chooses, the Federal Government pledging itself to protect dry States against liquor infiltration from outside. The platform expresses opposition to currency inflation; advocates an international conference on silver; extension of tariff further to primary products; recommends American enhance to the World Court; expresses hope that the Geneva Conference will effect a general limitation of armaments; and advocates strong measures against crime, particularly the activities of kidnappers, racketeers, and gangsters Unofficial dry organisations declared they were dissatisfied with the Prohibition plank, but will reserve action until after the Democratic Convention meets. A STORMY SESSION CHICAGO, 16th June. After a stormy night session lasting until after one o’clock on Thursday morning, the convention by 672 votes to 471 defeated the minority committee’s report embodying the so-called repeal of the Prohibition plank, and then viva voce voted and adopted the committee’s platform including the so-called submission plank, the reading of which by the chairman, Mr Garfield, was continually interrupted by jeers and boos, apparently mostly from tlm galleries. The delegations of various wet States, including New York, Illinois, Nevada, and others staged a parade for repeal. There were scuffles among several delegations where preference was .divided, wets attempting to carry the fetate banner into the convention. The galleries became more unruly. Cries of “We want repeal, no bunk” and prolonged cheering followed the organ’s playing of such tunes as “How dry I am,” which was Mr A 1 Smith’s campaign song in 1928. The chair limited the debate on Prohibition to two hours, one hour to each side. Mr Butler and Mr Bingham led the repeal attack, demanding that the people should have the right to vote “yes or no” on prohibition. Mr Mills and other Hooverites pleaded for party harmony and the acceptance of the committee’s report. The Convention adjourned late on Thursday morning. The remainder of the business was largely routine. General Dawes’s refusal to accept the vice-presidential seat virtually assures the.renomination of Mr Curtis. (Received 17th June, 8.20 a.m.) CHICAGO, 15th June. The Republican platform outlined the efforts of Mr Hoover, and the Administration to combat economic depression, noting with approval the setting up of agencies by the Government to deal with the conditions and tho need for revision of the banking laws to place the banking structure on a sbundcr basis. It mentioned tbc work of the Farm Board, and praised the national policy of land utilisation, which looks into national needs. The' platform favoured ‘settlement of international difficulties by conciliation and method of law, and limitation of war as a resort of national policy, which has been and will be our party programme.”

NO MENTION OF WAR DEBTS (Received 17th June, 9.50 a.m.) CHICAGO, 16th June. On every point the administration forces have ruled the Republican Convention. Only upon one issue was there ever a serious threat of revolt, and that was as to whether the party should declare for tlie repeal of the Eighteenth Amendment. The question was thrown back into congress on Wednesday night by the President’s plank asking that body to submit an amendment to States to be acted upon by State conventions. The vote supporting the plank as against straight repeal on the proposition of Senator Bingham was defeated by 681 votes to 472.

During the discussion spectators booed and jeered. Some delegates pranced in the aisles waving beer stains. Some tried to seize State standards for a parade, but there was no stampede. Mr Bertram Snell, the big-voiced, bigshouhlered chairman, Mr Ogden Mills, the Secretary of the Treasury, tlie sergeant and Chicago police were too much for the noisy, thirsty crew supporting Dr. Nicholas Butler, president of Columbia University, and Mr Bingham. The whole Hoover platform proposed dealt with safe and conservative matters in such general terms as to give wide discretion to the executive arm. When, as was expected, Mr Hoover and Mr Curtis are renominated, the triumph of Hooverism in the party will be complete. Republican strategists may congratulate themselves on obtaining such cohesion after three years of hard times. Many observers are asking whether the docility of tlie Republican rank and file is not a product of fear for the November election, and whether they have not clutched at the President’s coat tails because of uncertainty as to their own political fates. The Administration Prohibition plank declares for law enforcement, condemns referenda, deprecates partisan consideration of the issue, opposes submission confined to retention or appeal, and concludes: ‘‘"We therefore believe that people should have an a.pporUmity to pass judgment upon a proposed amendment, a provision of which while retaining in tlie Federal Government power to preserve gains already made in dealing with the evils inherent in tho liquor traffic. shall allow State to deal with (ho problem as their citizens may determine, but subject always to the power of the Federal Government to protect those. States where Prohibition may exist, and safeguard our citizens everywhere from the-retum of the saloon and its attendant abuses. Such an amendment should be properly submitted to the States by Congress to be acted upon by Slate conventions called for that solo purpose in accordance with Article V of tlie. Constitution, and adequately safeguarded so as to be truly representative.”

Xu contrast, with the 1928 platform declaration there was no mention of war debts in the present platform. The 1928 platform declared: “We have steadfastly opposed and will continue to oppose the cancellation of foreign debts.” Mr Hoover made a clean sweep of the first and only roll call, getting 11261 votes out of 1154. Others were : Senator John Blaine (Wisconsin) 1,3, Mr Coolidge 4£, Senator France, and the former

Senator James Wadsworth (New York) 1, former Vice-President Dawes 1, not voting 3, absent 1. The convention spent nearly all the concluding session shouting Mr Hoover’s praises. In the initial roll call for the vicepresidential nomination, Mr Curtis was just short of the 578 needed to nominate him, but tlie Pennsylvania delegate of' 94 changed its vote, giving him victory. Tlie Convention adjourned sine die. The nomination of Mr Curtis was anticlimatic. Five other names besides his were offered for nomination, and the roll call gave a scattering vote to six others including the American Minister in Canada, Mr MacNider, who received 178, and General IJarbord, chairman of directors of Radio Corporation of America., 161, but- ill the vice-Presidency, as in the platform and other phases of the Convention, Mr Hoover’s will was paramount. It was no secret that a direct telephonic wire from the White House dictated the choice of Mr Curtis, as it dictated the working of the Prohibition plank. The Convention adjourned sine die, but not without sending good wishes and affectionate greetings to Mr Coolidge, and informing Mr Hoover of bis nomination, and receiving word from him in return pledging to labour as ho has laboured to meet the effects of the world wide storm.

i-lOOVER RENOMINATED . A PROSPECTIVE CANDIDATE EJECTED (Received 17th June, 10.15 a.m.) CHICAGO, 16th June. At the Republican Convention, Dr. Joseph I. France (Maryland) was fforcibly ejected from the speakers’ platform, as he sought to get the floor. His name had just been placed in nomination, and his plan had been to make a nomination himself on behalf of the former President, Mr Coolidge. “They will have to carry out a Presidential candidate to stop me,” France told newspapermen. The police did practically carry him out a few minutes later. Mr Hoover was re-nominated for President and Mr Curtis for vice-Presi-dcnt. Mr Hoover’s sponsor described him as a “master in human engineering, whose shield had remained unsullied after four years in the White House. Senator France, the only other name officially nominated, received only four votes' upon a roll call. After Senator France had been forcibly ejected he was in a tremendous rage and on the verge of collapse. He explained that ho had been authorised by the Oregon delegation and had credentials therefore to place Mr Coolidge* s name for nomination. There is considerable conjecture as to whether his plan, if successful, might not have stampeded the delegates info a demonstration other than the carefully guided one which had been arranged to greet the naming of Mr Hoover for "nomination. As it was, during the roll call Mr Coolidge received votes, even though his name was not officially placed before the convention. Delegates surrendered themselves to tremendous noise making when Mr Hoover was nominated, and the nomination was made unanimous.