LIVELY MEETING

Hokitika Guardian, 21 June 1932, Page 5

LIVELY MEETING

PARTY POLITICS

U.S. DEMOCRATS MEET.

United Press Association —By Eicjtru i olograph.—Copyright.)

CHICAGO, June 19

Delegates of tlie Democratic Party are u i riving ior their Convention, quarrel over who jg to - be their nominee for President, and <js to what stand the Party wdl take on the question of Prohibition. Tne National Democratic Convention does not open until the 27th cf June, but already the advance guards of tlie Franklin Roosevelt and the Alfred Smith factions are encamped here.

Because of the obvious lockstep and gloom of the recent Republican Convention, observers are convinced that tlie Democratic Party has not had i.ueh a chanco of seV.ing control of the United States Government since the days of Woodrow Wilson. Governor' Franklin Roosevelt, of New York, has about 660 sure votes on the fir,it ballot, which number is about 150 short of the necessary twothirds majority. The remainder of the Convention votes are divided among half a dozen other candidates. The Democrats will fight among themcelves as to their nominee. The former New York State Gov* ernor, Mr Alfred Smith, is representing tlie now ultra “wet” conservative wing cf the Party. Mr Smith, by inference, has characterised Mr Roosevelt a. 3 a demagogue. Mr Smith’s proposition that the War debts shall be reduced or eliminated on the basis of trade concessions has met with a good deal of qualified approval throughout the country.

The real force of Mr Smith’s position lies in the disapproval of Wall Street, and of what might be called the solid bourgoisie of dreamy statements that have been made by Governor Roosevelt. If Mr Smith’s forces can defeat, cn two or three ballots, the combination of Mr Rrsevelt, the Convention will be thrown into confusion, and the field will be open. Then the kind of row which has always beaten the Democrats, as againct the well-disciplin-ed Republicans, will be on.