DRIPPING wet, outright repeal and modification plank is the ofli- clal stand of the Democratic party on the prohibition question. Not only does the party call for repeal of the Eighteenth amend- ment, but it demands immediate modifica tion of the Volstead act, The decision was reached after five hours of heated de- bate in the national convention at Chica- go, and about the wildest demonstra- tions ever witnessed in a political conven- tion. The prohibition plank as presented in the platform reported by former Senator Gilbert M. Hitchcock of Ne- braska, chairman of the resolutions committee, follows: “We favor the repeal of the Eightenth amendment. “To effect such repeal we de- mand that the congress immedi- ately propoge a constitutional amendment to truly representative conventions in the states called to act solely on that proposal “We urge the enactment of such measures by the several states as will actually promote temperance, effectively prevent the return of the saloon and bring the liquor traffic into the open under com- plete supervision and control by the states. “We demand that the federal government effectively exercise its power to enable the states to ef- fectively protest themselves against importation of intoxicating liquors in violation of their laws. “Pending repeal, we favor im- mediate modification of the Vol- stead act to legalize the manufac ture and sale of beer and other beverages of such alcoholic con- tent as is permissible under the Constitution and to provide there- from a r and needed reve- nue.” The h placed this plank in the platform came minority Gilbert M. Hitchcock on the question of report calling n-commnittal submission of a nt. The minority re i down by 934 to 213. The platforn model of brevity, containing exactly 1,306 words in con- trast to HNepublican declaration of some 8000 words, Some of the out- standing planks, briefly, are as follows: Advocated— An immediate reduction of not less than 25 per cent in governmental ex- penditures, Maintainence of the national credit by a budget annually balanced on the basis of accurate executive estimates within raised by a system of taxation levied on the principle of ability to pay. A sound currency to be preserved at all hazards, A competitive tariff for revenue. Extension of federal credit to the states to provide unemployment relief wherever the diminishing resources of the states make it impossible for them to provide for thé needy: ad- vance planning of public works, Unemployment and old age ance under state laws, Enactment of every constitutional measure that will aid the farmer to receive for basic farm commodities prices in excess of cost of production. A navy and army adequate for na- tional defense, Strict and impartial enforcement of anti-trust laws, (Quicker methods of realizing on gs sets for the relief of depositors of sus pended banks, and a more rigid su- pervision of national banks for the protection of depositors and the pre- vention of the use of their moneys in gpeculation to the detriment of local eredits, The fullest measure of justice and generosity for all war veterans, A firm foreign policy, including peace with all the world and the set- tiement of international disputes by arbitration; cancellation of debts ow- ing to the United States by foreign nations opposed; adherence to the World court with the pending reser- vations, Condemned— Liaproper and money in political Paid lobbies and special interests to influence members of congress and other public servants by personal con- tact, Action and utterances of high publie officials designed to influence stock ex- change prices, The extravagance of the farm board, its disastrous action which made the government a speculator in farm prod ucts, and the unsound policy of re stricting agricultural production to the demands of domestic markets, The usurpation of power by the State department in assuming to pass upon foreign securities offered by in- ternational bankers, as a result of which billions ef dollars In question. able bonds have been sold to the public upon the implied approval of the iederal government. The Hawley Smoot tariff law, the prohibitive rates of which have re revenues, insur- excessive use of activities, sulted In retaliatory action by more than forty countries, created interna- tional economic hostilities, destroyed international trade, driven our fac- tories into foreign countries, robbed the American farmer of his foreign markets and increased his cost of pro- duction, {CONGRESSIONAL action on the na- tional economy bill was completed by the house and senate Tuesday night, The senate agreed to the changes made by the house in the plan of pay- less furloughs for government em- ployees, The major house changes in the fur- lough plan were reduction of the ex- emption from $1,200 to £1,000 and es- tablishing a graduated scale of pay cuts for those employees whose serv- fces were so needed they could not be given a month's leave without pay, as will the employees who can be spared, The pay cuts begin at 10 per cent on salaries over £10000 and range to 20 per cent on salaries of $20,000 and over. Those making less than $10,000 who could not be furloughed would give up 8 1-3 per cent of their year's pay. One reason for the senate's relue- tance to approve the bill may have been that it cuts the salaries of con- gressmen 10 per cent. The Vice Presi- dent and speaker of the house suffer 15 per cent slashes. Even the Presiden his part, the whatever portion of wishes to turn back the Treasury department. had indicated his willingness to accept a smaller salary as part of the economy The the great bulk of savings In the meas ure, but changes in bureaus to elimi other re is invited to do # . racasure providing that his salary he is acceptable to President Hoover program, and wage ! salary cuts provide nate duplication will effect ductions In government cost, Most observers agree that the op 4 position of France and Japan and the coolness of Great Britain are cer tain to result in the rejection of Pres. jdent Hoover's latest proposals for tion of armament. Senator J. Hamilton Lewis of Illinois, al- ways a student of International reduc- deep af. fairs, is of this opin- fon, and In a speech In the senate he declared the replies of the countries named even embody the clear ex- pectation of a war in which the United States might be embroiled. There. fore, said the senator, it is time for this country to take stock of its na- tional defense policy, and he offered three suggestions. To Democratic senators he suggest. ed that they applaud the President's effort to bring about world concord through the reduction of armaments To the Democratic convention “in Chicago, he suggested that there be written Into the platform “a full declaration as to the army and navy that will assure defense, and adequate preparations against these peoples who are refusing to join us in an ef- fort for peace and are contemplating events which in their judgment will surely Involve us in war” To the President he suggested the withdrawal of a proposition that for eign nations had “flouted” in order that the future course of the nation as to its foreign relations and its de festic defense might be made an open campaign issue, with the people given opportunity to speak in November, Sen, Lewis T A meeting of the Republican senatorial campaign committee called by Senator Henry D. Hatfield (Rep, W. Va.), committee chairman, plans were made for an active senato- rial campaign in the East, Middle West, and Far West. Senator Felix Hebert (Rep., R. 1.) will be in charge of east. ern headquarters at New York, Sen- ator L. J. Dickinson (Rep. Iowa) will open midwestern headquarters at Chi- eago, and Senator Robert D, Carey {Rep., Wyo.), at Cheyenne, will have charge of the far western section. In the Middle West the senatorial committee will assist in the cam- paigns of Senator Otis F. Glenn in Ili nois and Senator James E. Watson in Indiana. In Jowa it will have the candidacy of Henry Field, victor In the primaries over Senator Smith Wildman Brookhart, radical Repub- lican, to support. TWO MILLION DOLLAR curtall- ment of the coast guard's pro- hibition activities was voted by the senate with the passage of the treas- ury and post office appropriation bill The saving was more than counterbal- anced, however, by an Increase of the appropriation for rural sanitation from $300,000 to $3,000,000 and the re- tention of customs surveyors and ap- pralsers, which the house bill had thrown out, As agreed to, the bill carried $1. 056,408,338, EPRESENTATIVE LA GUARDIA and other congressional erities of the federal farm board think they have found another case of misman. agement by that body, and the New Yorker has sent to Chalrman J, Stone a letter demanding a full ex- planation of the board's sale, last full, of 15,000,000 bushels of wheat to China, The chief question in the minds of congressional Inquirers is why the farm board sold wheat to the Nanking government on long term credit when advices from China are that China has paid cash for Canadian and Aus- tralian grain’ and has been selling large amounts of wheat to Russia and getting payment in cash. The farm board's transaction with China was fulfilled last fall and win. ter on the Nanking government's plea that its own granaries were empty, that it had no funds to make cash payments and that millions of Chi- nese faced starvation. In approximately the last four months of 1931 and the first four months of this year, the United States gent to China 14,800,000 bushels of the farm board's stabilization wheat. It accepted China's notes, partially secured by customs receipts, calling for payment in 1033, 1934 and 1035. During this same period, oh Korea fluctuations, Whether or ernment’s showed surprising Nanking buy American not the ability to Stone, RAJADHIPOK, the good Pua progressive king of Siam, is no longer an absolute monarch When he was in the United months ago he said he intended to grant his people a constitu. lon “when they were ready for it,” but they wait any longer because of the country's ©~ distress, He couldn't onomie the army King Prajadhipok tutional mona at once. They hour to acce; king only one terms, de put i another prince on the throne, Pra. ihipok and his queen returned im- and he agreed to the demands of the revolu- tionl t izing all the a mediately from thelr vacation ste, Issuing a wilamation legal TH ’ cis of the er the government under whose bann had been taken over. A constitution was submitted to him after studying of the revolters he signed it The only casualties In the d'etat were the death of a palace sol dier and the wounding of Sena Songkram, the and it with representatives draft of sen HE bill to abolish the oath of al legiance to the British crown for the Irish Free State entered In a new phase of its tempestuous career when he senate passed the bill with several trings attached to it As a result of the senate action, the oath bill does not serve the purpose originally announced by President Famon de Valera of giving the Free State “complete Independence” but carries an amendment that would sterilize it, This amendment provides that aboll. tion of the oath could not occur until the British and Free State govern ments have reached an sgreement on the point, Minister of Connolly telegraphs, measture would not be accepted in its present form. surgent,. and powerful political lead: ers of his country has been arranged for the near future. This startling de. velopment came about Manuel Balladares, prominent San- fean officials from Nicaragua after a conference with Sandino, The conference will be held at San Lorenzo, a Honduran port. The par. ticipants will probably be the four lib. eral candidates for the presidency and Gen. Horatio Portocarrero, Sandino's candidate, The immediate object of the confer ence Is the nomination of a single lib. eral candidate from among the con. testing five. If a compromise is renched the next step would be a dee laration of an armistice pending elec. tions, and ultimately final peace. on June 30 the public debt showed an increase from $16,801,000, 000 at the end of the last fiscal year to close to §10.251,000,000, This was due te both diminishing revenues and increasing expenditures. In spite of the fact that the gross deficit, nearly $2.000,000000, Is the largest in the nation’s peace time history, tressury officials were inclined to see a ray of hope in the fact that the deficit 1s no larger than had been anticipated by the department's statisticians last February. It was sald also that the total expenditures, not counting the extraordinary pending for the Re.’ construction Finduee corporation cap. ital and the federal land banks, will run considerably below the estimated expenditures for the fiscal year. ©. 1912, Western Newspaper Union. . DEMOCRATS PUT ON ROARING SHOW AT CONVENTION | Picked Roosevelt and Garner as Standard Bearers for National Race. By WRIGHT A. PATTERSON Chicago in national conv at the end of six us labor, had Fra 1 DD. Roosevelt for Presi Garner of wei hie demon racy of At fen met ention in ity, and, two nights of streny days and jected New Gov, as its candidate John N. its candidate for vice pres: York Speaker as ais) adopted iatform, one plank & $ - 3 fs % fr hict rovi for } repeal of the went and the | jon of the Volstead a gale of beer and li ahi listened to the speech of for Presi Wines | ceptance by its candidate dent, and adjourned, The agraph tells the news ! of the Democratic convention. above pe t tells what was presumably done in the con. vention hall, but no news paragraph ean give the reader a picture of a na. tional political gathering, nor can that | picture be painted with only the in | gredients found In a convention hall Both national conventions of this year consisted of a gathering of 2308 delegates and alternates; men and women from every state in the Union and from every possession, Quite naturally they felt they were at Chicago representing -the sovereign will of their party members in their respective districts, and sat In the convention, In the glare of the spot. lights, for that purpose. But of that 23508 men and women less than one | fourth actually had a voice in decid | ing what would be done, and the one-fourth diplomatically or some { times brutally, told the other 1.500 | what they would do. A goodly per | centage of the 2.208 delegates and al | ternates did not know just what It was all about. On the floor of the convention about | 90 per cent of the activities was bunk {| and ballyhoo, noise and hysteria, =a | useless effort to create sentiment for or against this, that or the other policy, or this that or the other can. | didate. The other 10 per cent con | sisted of the ratification of what had | been accomplished by the leaders be hind closed doors in commitice meet | Ings held in hotel rooms. If it were i pot done In that way a convention | would never end, and party govern { ment In America would be Impossible Conventions Much Alike. That, in brief, is a picture of any national political convention, and it was as true of the Democratic con vention as of any other, with the ex- ception that the committees were in no sense unanimous, and there were minority reports presented from prac tically every one of them on prac tically every question of policy. In the end, however, the wishes of the majority of each committee were rati fled by the majority on the floor. The ballyhoo of the convention was particularly noticeable, as it always has been, at the time of presenting the names of candidates to the con vention. ft began shortly before two o'clock Thursday afternoon, continued anti! the adjournment at six, began again at nine that night and continued without a break until fourthirty Fri. day morning. For nominating speeches, of which there were nine—Roosevelt, Smith, Ritchie, Traylor, Garner, White, Byrd, Reed and Murray—20 minutes each was allowed. For seconding speeches, of which there were more than 80, five minutes ench was allowed. Following each nominating speech came periods of earefully staged hilarity which was supposed to represent enthusiasm, but which In the majority of cases repre sented nolse produced by the pipe outlying organist with the ald of all the loud pedals on the Instrument Gallery Always in Evidence, The exceptions were the demonstra- tions for Governor Smith and ernor Ritchie. In demonstra. tions the unruly gallery gods took a hand and supplemented the noise made by the pipe organ. To the gal lory gods these two candidates repre sented beer, and beer to the galleries wag the most important subject be the conver The tion for Roosex lasted 45 Then fol ner, Mare Gov- these fore demonstra. lowed that en gone and three of the wt ” » 3 Lhe Allernoo? fore the It began ¢ he lane the ong convention gain at nine weary hours of session there was speech hon speech Ar d ballvhoo thirty Friday morning when 1 tJ jut the big Chiengo audi®ee that filled every avallable seat was appointed. The session did not velop—on the surface—any fights but all the evidence of a Democratic feast, except for Senator Huey Long's castigation of the “bunch of outlaws” that were contesting the seats of the senator's group of To be sure it had not been ble for the commitiees on credentials and on permanent organization to ar- rive at unanimous opinions and there were minority reports from both com. mittees brought to the floor of convention, the vote of the various members of the committees indicatin very clearly just where the streng or weakness of the leading eandidat lay, In the committees wit} from each state it that Governor trol the majority committees, The first of the long ana, which was instraoc velt, the uninstructed. Long won. The of which dis- de Wve delegates, possi the \ One Was ver) Roosevelt coul reports test of deleg: contesting adoption seated his delegates, a vole of At the ley the oratory had the Louisiana 11s suggested that vig G38% to suggestion of pose of gates had oratory ‘perpetrat in the Minnesota speech making consisted largely there were tues of all Minnesots had more $ i depending upon which 4d several, some contestar The to be belonged to. a satisfied = Propose ad ths line quite w the honors, delegations be having half a were and seated, each vote, In the contestants of 658%; to 400% - 8 Walsh Wields Gavel epttling ted and the roll first ballot party's © ite for President result was: Roosevelt, G00 ; 201%; : Garner, 923% : White lor, Byrd, 25: Reed, 24; Mur ray, Ritchie, 21; Baker, 83%. Mr Roosevelt lacked 108% of the needed two-thirds to secure a nomination Two more ballots were taken without material change In the result, and then, at eight-thirty in the morning the weary crowd quit until eight-thir- ty Friday night, Roosevelt Wins. Trades were made during Friday Speaker John Garner was assured of second place on the ticket If his dele gates threw their voles to Roosevelt, and the nomination was made on the firet ballot taken at the Friday night the fourth ballot of the con vention, Roosevelt receiving 045 votes, Smith 100%, with 12% voles scattered between Ritchie, Baker, White and Cox The Smith delegations stood loyally by their champion to the end, and there no motion to make the nomination of Mr. Roosevelt unani- mous, At the Saturday session Speaker John N. Garner was chosen as the party's. candidate for vice president. At that session Mr. Roosevelt, who had reached Chicago by plane, was present and was received with tu multuous enthusiasm, He was official ily notified of his nomination and made his speech of acceptance. The convention opened at 12:45 forty-five minutes late—on Monday. The stars of the first performance were National Chairman Raskob, making his last appearance; Com- mander Evangeline Booth, of the Sal vation army, and Senator Barkley, temporary chairman. In his opening address the subtle wit of the national chairman was just a bit over the heads of his audience and did not pro. duce the rip-snorting hilarity charac. teristic of a Democratic convention. Senator Barkey was more to the lik- ing of the delegates and the audi ence, and his slaps at the Republicans brought down the house and created the noisy demonstrations that made it look and sound like a Democratic gathering. The crowd on the opening day was not up to expectations. Chicago did not treat their Democratic guests any better than they had treated the Re publicans, and a third of the seats In the Stadiom were vacant. But Chieago knew the fireworks would not start the first day. “Scraps” Not in Evidence. With the opening of the Tuesday session at 12:50-fifty minutes late Chicago was all set to witness a real Democratic shindig. There was the promise of a scrap over contested delegations from Louisiana and Min nesota ; another over the permanent chalrmanship, Walsh va, Shouse; and a third promised over the two-thirds rule, \ of the job was co the for the The Smith, 52; Tray- was called on 42% session, was JOHN N. GARNER Roosevelt 3 3 the Sy Reed, White, Murray, etc, ity wanted Jouett Shouse That of eulogistic oratory. Ralph C of Kansas gized Walsh talking for Shouse, and J of South Carolina, eulogized while talking for Walsh the former Democratic standard er, John W Shouse and ably talking call Walsh The Wal Walsh, man, Senator “controversy” was prod eule Davis, who eulo Walsh, though p for Shouse. On the was elected by To complet feast elected and the candidates had their pictures together on the speakers’ pl The expected fight did not materialize, velt had called a halt on to change the century-old rule © two-thirds vote to nominate. Altogether It No ripsnorting, roaring, Democrat demonstrations; no fistic argum no real entertainment for the Ci audience that had purchased seas tickets at prices up to $0; nothing to indicate that it was a Democratic National convention In session Wet Chicago went to the convention Wednesday night to help the wet Dem ocratic majority put over its wel plank. It was a roaring, howling, good-natured mob that crashed the gates of the Stadium to the extent of thousands and finally forced the clos- ing of the doors to the exclusion of large numbers who held legitimate tickets of admission, Genuine Ovation for “AL” The one outstanding note of Wednes day night's tumultoous session was the reception accorded Governor Smith when he took the platform to speak for the majority liguor plank. He was the hero of the convention, and, regardless of the fact that he will not get their votes, the idol of nine tenths of the delegates. Despite every effort of the chairman to restore order that the business of the convention might be expedited, the roaring, howling, marching demonstration for "Al" last. ed fifteen minutes The drys had a hard time. The gallery gods did not want to hear them, and made that fact evident. Despite every possible effort on the part of Senator Walsh, and all of the biting sarcasm he could put into his denunciation of the behavior of the mob, nobody was permitted to hear the speakers supporting the plank pre sented by the minority. But all of the oratory, whether heard or not, did not change a single delegate vote, and of G00 to the over Governor the «¢ was a mild affa the “dripping wet” plank was adopted by a vote of 034% to 218%.
Significant historical Pennsylvania newspapers