THE NEW DEAL

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXIII, Issue 22443, 12 June 1936, Page 11

THE NEW DEAL

ALLEGED FAILURE MR. HOOVER'S ATTACK SCENE AT CONVENTION GREAT OVATION GIVEN By Telegraph—Press Association—Copyright (Received June 11, 9.25 p.m.) CLEVELAND, June 11 At an early hour this morning the Republican committee had completed its draft of a platform ostensibly satisfactory to all sides. The draft then was transmitted by telephone to Mr. Landon at Topeka, Kansas, for his final approval before submission to the Convention, "as undoubtedly he will be the party's candidate" in the words of a member of the committee. In the convention hall last evening, the appearance of the former President. Mr. Herbert Hoover, introduced the first genuine ingredient of excitement to the proceedings. After the delegates had cheered him to the echo for 15 minutes he launched a harsh and bitter attack on the New Deal and tittered a solemn exhortation to Republicans to "come to the rescue of the nation." Strange Interlude in History

Continuing, Mr. Hoover said: "In this room rests the greatest responsibility that has come to a body of Americans in three generations. To some people the New Deal appears to be a strange interlude in American history because it has no philosophy, because it is sheer opportunism, because it is a muddle of spoils, a system of emotional economics and reckless adventure, of unctuous claims to a monopoly of human sympathy, of greed for power and desire for popular acclaim. That is not a charitable view.

| "To other people, the New Deal appears to be a cold-blooded attempt by starry-eyed boys to infect the American people by a mixture of European ideas flavoured with our native predilection to get something for nothing. For the first time in the history of America we have heard the gospel of class hatred preached from White House. That is a human poison far more deadly than fear. Every reader of the history of democracy knows that it is the final rock on which all democracies have been wrecked." Strong Rally to Former President The convention rallied strongly to Mr. Hoover. It had not had anyone else to cheer so far and there is little prospect of having anyone. Although during the day and evening the strength of Mr. Landon continued to grow—additional State delegations indicating that they intend to vote for him —it is a commonly acknowledged fact that Mr. Landon is virtually an unknown figure fn his own party. -He has said little and has declined repeatedlv to make any declaration of his opinion on controversial issues. Except for the fact that his personal fortune comes from the petroleum business there is scant information available as to his background. As for Mr. W. E. Borah, he has not even appeared at the convention so far, being content to remain in his hotel "dickering" for support or making threats.

Appeal to Fellow Americans Consequently, to the delegates, and even to the spectators, Mr. Hoover represented a cause, even if a lost one. As he completed his speech, a heavy thunderstorm caused the steel rafters of the hall to crackle ominously and to give startling emphasis to his concluding words. Mr. Hoover said: "Republicans and fellow Americans, this is your call to stop the retreat in a chaos of doubt, confusion and fear. Your's is the task to command the turning of the eyes of your fellow Americans to the sunlight of freedom, to lead the attack to retake and re-man the citadels of liberty. "Thus can America be preserved, thus can the opportunity, the inheritance and the spiritual future of your children be guaranteed, and thus you can win the gratitude of posterity and be able to sing 'almighty God'." Impromptu Demonstrations After nearly half an hour's cheering, upon the former president leaving the rostrum, the delegates from the floor began an impromptu chant of "We want Hoover," which the chairman's gavel was able to drown out only with difficulty. The Californian delegation raised its banner and began an ecstatic march around the hall. Finally, the chairman made himself heard above t'he clamour saying, "Mr. Hoover has left the hall. He had to catch a train to go tqfcNew York."

However, the delegates were not so easily satisfied. They continued to make a tremendous noise and broke into "Onward Christian Soldiers."

The chairman of the Republican National Committee, Mr. Fletcher, bent down from his official stand and said to the reporters: "This is enthusiasm." After - another half hour's demonstration, tho chairman announced the adjournment of the convention for the night. No account of the day's proceedings would be complete without the inclusion of the fact of the arrival of a number of members of the Oxford Group, under the leadership of the Rev. Frank Bucliman. They had just concluded a long meeting at Stockbridge, Massachusetts, and came to Cleveland "to put tho thoughts of the delegates on God."