AMERICAN DEMOCRATS

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 75, Issue 151, 29 June 1932, Page 7

AMERICAN DEMOCRATS

CONVENTION OPENED TROUBLES OF THE NATION “SICK OF REPUBLICAN RULE” [By Telegraph—Press Association—Copyright] CHICAGO, June 27. The Demorcratic Convention was opened to-day with prayer by Commander Evangeline Booth, of the Salvation Army, in which she asked for wisdom for tho delegates in the hour of the nation’s greatest need. A grotesque note was struck, when after tho “Star Spangled Banner’ was sung by a lady from Massachus, ells, a man on the flor brandished his crutch and shrieked. The Mayor of Chicago (Mr Cer niak) was then introduced. Soins what incongruously he expressed the hope that the new spirit which is Chicago shall dominate America, but therefatcr he switched quickly to the warning that “millions of hungry men, women and children look to you.” He concluded with a demand for the repeal of tho Eighteenth Amendment. Tho chairman (Air Raskob), in his opening address, reiterated the repeal motion and declared that prohibition was the greatest single economic question before the nation. The Roosevelt order against the ion tinuation of the fight to eliminate the two-thirds rule was promptly accepted this afternoon by Air .James Farley, head ot the Roosevelt Board of Strategy. With the Southern States in revolt against the abrogation of the century-old rule, tho Roosevelt lead ers had been in conference during the morning considering a reversal of *he policy. A Long-winded Speaker The chairman (Air Barkley) thereafter delivered the keynote address, the theme of which was that the world and the nation are sick and dejected after twelve years of Republican rule. Ho concluded with a recommendation for the repeal *»f the Eighteenth Amendment.

Air Barkley called tho Harding Administration the darkest chapter of public betrayal in tho history of this or any other nation, and heaped blame on President Coolidge ana the Secretary to the Treasury (Mr Alelion) for the orgy of speculation and inflation that had no foundation in real values. Ho termed the Republican plank on prohibition a promiscuous congolmeration of scrap lumber. He denounced President Hoover aud the Republicans for tho exorbitant and indefensible rates of the Smoot-Hawley tariff, and promised to lift the tariff-making above the sordid processes of log-rollers and back-scratchers. Eighteenth Amendment Air Barkley urged the Convention to recommend the passage by Congress of a resolution submitting repeal of the Eighteenth Amendment for ratification by tho people through the State Conventions, whose delegates should be chosen upon that issue alone. He proposed that the Democrats solve the tariff problem by inaugurating a friendly international confer once with a view to reopening normal trade channels in the world and make the Tariff Commission a path-finding body for Congress. ATr Barkley advocated consideration of a five-day week or six-hour day as a possible solution of the unemployment problems. Air Barkley’s speech was a long 'me aud the delegates who convened at noon began to grow hungry, and the stadium emptied to his words. He finished by 4 o’clock, and after a hurried approval of the committees, tho Convention went into recess until to-morrow. TWO-THIRDS RULE MR ROOSEVELT’S MESSAGE NEW YORK, Juno 27. Governor Roosevelt to-day telegraphed his supporters at the Democratic Convention to cease their efforts to abrogate the two-thirds Convention rule. He indicated his confidence in nomination without resorting to change in the loug-observed rule. “DRY” VERSUS “WET” INTERESTING SCENES CHICAGO, June 27. Mr Barkley’s advocacy of repeal caused an interesting 15-minute demonstration among the delegates. Air Barkley has long been known as an ardent “dry” supporter, having been an Anti-Saloon League lecturer. Various State delegations began parading tho floor, shouting “Repeal. ’ ’ Tho dry factions fought with the “wet” for possession of the State standards, and there were one or two brief fist fights, one woman being slightly injured in the Texas delegation. TWO-THIRDS RULE. MR ROOSEVELT’S SURRENDER. Received June 28, 9.20 p.m. CHICAGO, June 28. The temperamental, volatile Democratic. delegates were quick to react to Mr. Roosevelt’s surrender of the twothirds nomination majority rule and there were many interpretations tonight as to the effect of this step. It was said that it was an admission of defeat, for nomination. The rumour is spreading that Governor Ritchie, ot Maryland, will probably be the successful aspirant, but Air. Roosevelt seems intrinsically the strongest figure despite the day’s developments. Meanwhile vacillation and uncertainty among the delegations is apparent. Mr. Roosevelt appears likely to bo able to dictate the choice of a permanent chairman for the convention favourable to his aspirations. This may put the convention completely under his control. His enemies, even to-night after scoring their first, victory against him, are not united. Despite much serious business, the delegates are making Michigan a boulevard of grand carnival with many