HOOVER CHOSEN

Taranaki Daily News, 18 June 1932, Page 5

HOOVER CHOSEN

REPUBLICAN NOMINATION

UNITED STATES PRESIDENCY

CONVENTION EXCITEMENT

PRESIDENT’S WILL RULES

LIQUOR ONLY DIFFICULTY

By Telegraph—Press Assn. —Copyright. Chicago, June 16.

On every point the administration forces have ruled the Republican Convention. Only upon one issue was theie ever a serious threat of revolt, and that was as to whether the party should declare for the repeal of the Eighteenth Amendment.

The question thrown back into Congress on Wednesday night by the President’s plank asking that body to submit the Amendment to the States, to be acted upon by a State conventions’ vote supporting the plank as against the straight repeal proposition of Senator Bingham, was defeated by 681 votes to 472.

During the discussion spectators booed and jeered, some of the delegates pranced in the aisles waving beer steins, and some tried to seize the State standards for a parade, but there was no stampede. Mr. Bertram Snell, the big-voiced, bigshouldered chairman, Mr. Ogden Mills, secretary of the Treasury, the sergeant and the Chicago police were too much for the noisy, thirsty crew supporting Dr. Nicholas Butler, president of the Columbia University, and Senator Bingham.

The whole of the Hoover platform proposed dealt with safe and conservative matters in such general terms as to give wide discretion to the executive arm. When, as is expected, President Hoover and Vice-President Curtis are re-nominated, 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. RANK AND FILE DOCILITY. Many observers are asking whether the docility of the Republican rank and file is not a product of fear for the November election; whether they have not clutched the President’s coat-tails because of uncertainty as to their own political fates: The administration of the prohibition plank declares for law enforcement, condemns referenda, deprecates partisan consideration of the issue and opposes a submission confined to retention of appeal.

The plank concludes: "We therefore believe that the people should have an opportunity to pass judgment upon a proposed amendment, a provision of which, while retaining government power to preserve gains already made in dealing with evils inherent in the liquortraffic, shall allow the States to deal with the 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 a return of the saloon and its attendant abuses. “Such an amendment should be properly submitted to the States by Congress, to be acted upon by State conventions called for that sole purpose, in accordance with Article 5 of the constitution, and adequately safeguarded so as to be truly representative.” In contrast with the 1923 platform declaration, there was no mention war debts in the present platform. The 1928 platform declared: “We have steadfastly opposed and will continue to oppose the cancellation of foreign debts.” Dr. Joseph I. France (Maryland) was forcibly ejected from the Speakers’ platform as he sought to take 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. Cpolidge. “They have to carry out a presidential candidate to stop me,” Dr.. France told newspapermen. The police did. practically carry him put. A few minutes later Mr. Hoover was re-nominated for the Presidency and Mr. Curtis for the Vice-Presidency. “HOOVER SHIELD UNSULLIED.” Mr. Hoover’s sponsor described him as “A master in human engineering, whose shield had remained unsullied after four years in White House.” Senator France’s was the only other name officially nominated, and he received only four votes upon the roll being called. After Dr. France had been forcibly ejected he was in a tremendous rago and was on the verge of collapse. He explained that he had been authorised by the Oregon delegation, and had credentials therefore to place Mr. Coolidge’s name for nomination. There was considerable conjecture whether his plan, if successful, might not have stampeded the delegates into 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 4$ votes, even though his name was not officially placed before the convention. The delegates surrendered themselves to tremendous noise-making when Mr. Hoover was nominated, and the nomination was made unanimous. Mr. Hoover made a clean sweep of the first and only roll call by securing 11261 votes of 1154. The others were: Senator John Blaine (Wisconsin), 13; Mr. Coolidge (Dr. France), 4}d; Mr. James Wadsworth, former Senator (New York), 1; General Dawes, former VicePresident, 1; not voting, 3; absent, 1. PRESIDENT’S PRAISES SUNG. The convention spent nearly all of, the concluding session in shouting Mr. i Hoover’s praises. I In the initial roll call for Vice-Presi-dential nomination Senator Curtis was just ahead of the 578 needed to nominate him, but the Pennsylvania delegation of 94 changed its vote, giving him victory. The nomination of Senator Curtis was an anti-climax. Five other names besides his were offered for nomination, and the roll call gave a scattering vote to the six. The others included the American Minister for Canada, Mr. MacNider, who

received 178, and General Harbord, chairman of directors of the Radio Corporation of America, 161. But in the Vice-Presidency, as m the platform and other phases of the convention, Mr. Hoover’s will was paramount. It is no secret, that a direct telephonic wire from White House dietated the choice of Senator Curtis. as it dictated the working of the prohibition plank. ■ . The convention was adjourned sine die but not without sending good wishes and affectionate greetings to Mr. Coolidge, informing Mr. Hoover of his nomination and receiving word from him in return pledging to labour as he, laboured to meet the effects of the worldwide storm. The Democratic Convention has yet to select its. nominee for the Presidency,