ISSUES IN AMERICAN POLITICS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXIX, Issue 21225, 4 July 1932, Page 8

ISSUES IN AMERICAN POLITICS.

The nomination of Governor Roosevelt as Democratic candidate for the presidency and Speaker Garner for the vice-presidency brings to an end the prolonged convention at Chicago. Its effect on the political situation in the United States and its possible consequences in international affairs are of more importance than the procedure of the convention, yet this has an interest apart from the incidental tumult 11 that seems on this occasion to have been enjoyed more than ever. There was a serious risk that the strong personal antagonisms of the outstanding aspirants for the presidential nomination might create a rift in the party and produce a "compromise candidate" of unimpressive quality. In addition, a sharp cleavage of opinion on the prohibition law was expected to have an awkwardly complicating influence. The party has emerged safely from the ordeal, having chosen the man entering the convention with the strongest body of popular support and accepted a positive policy against the Eighteenth Amendment and the Volstead Act. A battle royal between Republicans and Democrats is to follow, after the usual month or so of attention to the party machinery by managing committees; the customary speeches of acceptance by Mr. Hoover and Mr. Roosevelt will introduce that battle, which will take its long and costly way until November. During its course much more will be heard of the policies defined, more or less sharply, at the conventions. Their further definition may be difficult. The Democrats of the primary-producing south and west must press their views on

tariffs, somewhat incongruously, through a Candidate provided by the industrial and financial east, while the difference between Republican and Democratic platforms on the prohibition issue will occasion tortuous controversy. Outside of the United States, however, the Democrats' opposition to the cancellation of war debts and the Republicans' silence on this question will attract a curiosity as to how the conflict between the parties may affect the international outlook. To the onlooking world, this question is paramount. Will it be faced anew in this contest, and will the implied doubt in the Republican mind be resolved in a way helpful to Europe before the end of the presidential term —and, if so, will a Congress predominantly Democratic block favourable action? Quite apart from the result of the Lausanne Conference, the question may invest the election with worldwide interest or it may be as significantly avoided. Time will soon tell.