REPUBLICAN CONVENTION

Hokitika Guardian, 13 June 1928, Page 1

REPUBLICAN CONVENTION

OPENS AT KANSAS Cun'. (United Press Association.—By Electric Telegraph.—Copyright.) . NEAV YORK, June 11. News from Kansas City states that the Republican. Party’s National Convention opens there to-morrow. Ostensibly it .is the instrument whereby Democracy indicates its political convictions, but it lias, however, all the aspects of a ceremonial spectacle, with rites, ritual, music and even some forms of dance more intimately associated with primitive men. Kansas City is literally swathed in bunting, with automobiles moving in its streets bearing placards shrilly calling for support for some favourite aspirant for the Presidential nomination. Hundreds of street corners are each occupied by blaring bands, either just arrived with some delegation, or supplied by the municipal authorities. There are 1,089 convention delegates, with as many alternates, now there, or arriving hourly on special trains, bearing also their - families, friends and countless politicians only unofficially connected with the Convention.

AVith the .exception of Air Kellogg and Air Hoover, who will not attend all the officialdom of AA'asliington has left for Kansas City, and there also are 30,000 visitors, who have been attracted solely by the spectacle. It has, morover, been promised that fifty thousand, or even one hundred thousand farmers will march upon the city “to make America safe for agriculture,” and for tlieni the large City Park has been turned into a campaign ground, although it is freely surmised that no such horde can conceivably come from the fields at this time in the spring. Millions of invisible participants must also he mentioned, for by way of radio forty million people will hear everything that occifns.

Senator Borah, who is America’s gloomiest political prognostician, summed it all up yesterday in a most sombre epigram, viz., “The eve of the National Convention is dim with the self-deceiving twilght of sophistry.” AA’omen are playing a more prominent part in this convention than in those of past years. Even if they are still far from dominating the issues, nor playing a predominant part in the choice of candidates, they comprise in excess of forty per cent, of tho electorate, hut they must be less than ten per cent, of tho motivating power behind the Convention. Yet socially, the convention is exclusively in the hands of the women. The best idea of their part can he gained from the fact that, on tho existing candidates they liavo expressed a preference, but they have not' offered any issues, or presented any candidates.

Prohibition may prove to bo troublesome, but tlie formula fixed by the last eight years will probably serve as concerns this question. The platform will undoubtedly declare- for law enforcement, ns it has in the past, and both the Prohibitionists and the nntiProhibitonists will see just wlnit they wish to see in this plank. At the Convention, three persons and one economic group will dominate the gathering. The chief and foremost of these is Air Hoover. It is clear that he is stronger to-day than .since he became a candidate for nomination. This, however, does not mean that his nomination is assured. Five times previously in the history of the Republican conventions dominating figures have been swept aside and compromise nominees chosen, tho Inst instance being in 1920 when Air Lowden and the late General AVcod had to step down before Air Harding.

President Coolidgo’s intentions are closely interwoven with Mr Hoover's fate. The former renouncement of nomination would hearten Mr Hoover’s supporters, though it possibly would be insufficient to assure Mr Hoover’s ascendancy. The President is at present on a vacation in the forests of Wisconsin, surrounded by a retinue ot some eiglity-eight persons. He will have much to say, whether the Republican platform repudiates or endorses his own past polities and promises to keep them in force under his successor. Mr Mellon (Secretary to the Treasury) is still keeping his counsel. Senators Curtis, Watson, and Lowden are using the farmers as an antiHoover weapon. They sav that the Middle Western States, which normally are Republican, will vote for Governor Smith or for any other Democratic nominee if Mr Hoover in chosen. Moreover, they are trying to write into the Republican platform a plank which will declare out and out for the Me-Nar.v-Hangen Bill to maintain the prices of farm products, despite Mr Coolidge’s veto of the Bill. Mr Hoover’s backers are offering a counterpoise plank, endorsing President Goolidge’s action, and promising agricultural relief in indefinite terms compromise group is more interested in the Party’s solidarity than in the fortunes of any one candidate, and prefei to offer agricultural relief in terms of a revision of the tariff upwards on such products as the farmer sells, and down on the products ho buys.

MILLION FOR HOOVER. KANSAS CITY, June 11. The announcement is maefe that. Chairman . Butler, of the Republican National Committee, and a close friend of Mr Hoover’s, lias informed those associated with him that he will vote for Mr Hoover, and that Mr Mellon has .indicated a similar intention. He further states that the delegation from Vermont, the President’s own State, will cast their ballots for Mr Hoover. From this it is inferred that those closest to. the President are discounting the draft of the Coolidge movement, and are turning to Mr Hoover.

MR HOOVER’S CHANCE. NEW YORK, June 12. A message from Kniisas City states at the opening session of the Republican National Convention to-day it was indicated that Air Hoover would secure presidential nomination at an early ballot after Mr Slellon formally hail announced Pennsylvania’s suppoit. drop on stock exchange. deceived ibis dav at 9.:W a.ro.) NEW YORK, June 12. Wall Street reacted promptly to the apparent elimination of Mr Coolidge as a candidate. When. word reached the Stock Exchange that the Republican leaders had decided on Mi* Hoovei, prices of the leading stocks which pre : vioiisly had been re-gaining ground from yesterday’s drop, once more broke sharply. Commission houses reported liquidation orders were pouring in from all parts of the country. NEW YORK, Juno 12. It is only, too obvious that the Republicans lacked a. definite and strong leadership to coagulate the softti-

meats and personalities that were dissipating their strength. It was not until the early hours of this morning when something like unanimity was reached among the important leaders. Air Coolidge in 1924 issued orders and they wore obeyed, but there was nobody to take a hand in the place all night long. Alellon’s headquarters and those of Butler, ostensibly representing Coolidge and those of Senator Shoot was was entrusted with the preliminary draft of the platform were crowded with Hoover and anti-Hoover groups each trying to make themselves heard. There was none strong enough to issue a command that all, would obey. At the Convention itself, twenty movie cameras are trained on the speakers platform, and their activities contribute to the noise if not to the ready made enthusiasm of the ceremony. The smack of he whole business is artificial, particularly if one remembers .that the Convention is not gathered to act on its spontaneous desires for either candidate of the platform. The delegates are merely waiting for orders from a handful of men who are at present away from the Conventioni 1 Hall. When balloting commences on Thursday or Friday and the delegates begin their snake dances with waving banners and noisy bands, they bill have all the, excitement for which they came to Kansas City. NEAA" YORK, June 12.

Hoover force’s victory, however, is not vet admitted by opponents. Butler, as delegate from Massachussetts, announced his vote would be cast for Hoover, but he was warned that Ooolidge does not wish this to he interpreted" as the President expressing a preferncc for any candidate, though he himself does not desire nomination. It is certain the quietus however that this will put on the “Draft Coolidge” movement', must definitely aid Hoover who is now as nearly assured of nomination as anyone can he, before the balloting actually begins. Pennsylvanian delegation, meeting in caucus, decided to cast seventynine votes unanimously for Hoover. Senator Fees (temporary Chairman of the Convention) in a keynote address was fianibuoyant in his praise of the Republican accomplishments in office. In tacit defence of Mr Ccolidge’s action respecting agricultural relief, he said: “None should doubt the purpose of this party is to give this, the greatest of industries, every consideration short of unsound proposals for Government stimulation of artificial remedies, which in the end may only add to our problems.” He concluded with an amazing adulatory commendation of Mr Coolidge, stating: “He leaves office by his own fiat, which appears to he final and is so interpreted by many of his friends, despite the fact that his nomination and election would he a foregone conclusion, did ho not forbid it.”