POLICY DEFENDED

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 75, Issue 140, 16 June 1932, Page 7

POLICY DEFENDED

AMERICAN REPUBLICANS NATIONAL CONVENTION OPENS TWO CONTROVERSIAL PLANKS (By Telegraph—Press Association— Copyright) CHICAGO, June 14. At. the Convention Stadium the Republican National Convention opened to the music of “Dixie,” played by the largest pipe organ in the world and capable of a volume equivalent to 2000 band instruments. When it roared no human voice could make itself heard. The day’s business at. the Convention from the opening prayer through the organisation of delegates and Senator Dickinson’s eulogistic speech on President Hoover was, however, of an extremely rousing character. The Republicans lived up strictly to the tradition of their well-managed gathering. Two deeply controversial matters still remain unsettled, namely the wording of the prohibition plank and whether Mr Curtis will be retained as Vice-President. One was compelled to seek trends away from the main trend for the vital meanings in this convention. Keynote Speech The keynote speech was entirely silent on prohibition. The Republican National Convention on Tuesday was told by Senator Dickinson (Iowa) that President Hoover had prevented financial panic in the United States, maintained social order, mitigated unemployment distress, and preserved the international financial structure. Mr Dickinson defended all the Republican policies. In these distressing times there was just one bulwark of salvation for the United States and that was the Hawley-Smoot Tariff Act. Mr Dickinson spoke in the red. white, and blue auditorium at Chicago to the accompaniment of the cheers of a thousand delegates and thousands nf visitors.

For two long years, be said, the Democrats had hampered the President at every turn, belittled his efforts and impunged his motive. They called for inflation, whereas the safety of the country required the maintenance of the gold standard and the maintenance of the value of the dollar. With scorn he pointed out that while flee Democrats had inveighed against the Hawley-Smoot Act, they had gener ously supported the duties on copper, coal, oil, and lumber. Women’s Position Vital meanings are interesting enough and not wholly missing—the position of women for example. For the first time since they gained the suffrage they have begun to play a commanding part in the political struggle. It is no secret that hitherto the male Republican politicians gave women, and the latter were quite content therewith, only decorative roles. They were placed on various committees, but their real power was small. Many of them at this convention had been ousted from their seemingly important but really innocuous positions. For instance, Mrs Yost (West Virginia), and Mrs Miller (Michigan), veteran woman Republicans, were removed from their State committees, but this is the first convention in which women are actually doing the work of loaders. The dry forces arc waging a losing fight here, but they are being ably and militantly led by such women as Mrs Boole, of the W.C.T.U. The “wet” forces in the Republican Party, which have hitherto had no women leadership, are here powerfully and actively supported by Mesdames Pratt and Sabin, of New York, two wealthy women delegates, who moreover conducted a very able pre-con-vention repeal fight throughout the country. Miss Adams descended upon Chicago to-day with women delegates <“ ! the International League of Peace from every State, and staged a demonstration calling for an expression by the convention on the question of armaments. She is a figure able to command the highest respect and is acknowledged as the most distinguished woman in the United States. Finally the Communist demonstration which was held a short distance from the Convention Stadium under police surveillance was led by a negro woman. who vigorously harangued her followers. The convention session lasted only about an hour and adjourned until tomorrow, when the platform will be approved. Nominations occur on Thursday, after which the Convention will be adjourned sine die.