U.S. PRESIDENCY

Hokitika Guardian, 28 June 1932, Page 5

U.S. PRESIDENCY

DEMOCRAT TICKET ROOSEVELT CENTRAL FIGURE. (United Press Association—By Electric ' Teiegrapli— Copyright.) CHICAGO, June 2(3. Twelve hours before the Convention of the Democratic Party opens, Governor F. Rooseveit, of New York, is becoming the comnnuid.ng figure in the Democratic Party, and it seems quite cl.nrly indicated that he wi.l obtain the Party’s nomination, for tlie it> Money. U-.p we,Hi-fiuowu 'J amliuvny delegate told tlie Australian Press Associaton representative tonight: “Until we got here, we did not know how. strong he is. It appears toat it will be: impossible to beat him!”

It ;>» a revealing confession that Mr Roosevelt’s ascendency is an expression of those forces within American life, and particularly the Democratic Pa.ty, which are commonly and quite correctly labelled “rural and Protestant/’ and are chiefly represented by southern and western States; These were unable to check the urban and Catholic forces in the 1928 Democratic Convention, but they then retaliated by overthrowing the traditional adherencJo cf the Democratic Party at the poila and voted against ex-Uovenicr Alfred Smith, of New York. To-day the rural and Protestant forces are markedly in control of the machinery of the Democratic Convention, and their champion is Mr Roosevelt. . He is not it well-liked man, hut lie represents a weapon with which certain d'Jeply-comvervative elements in American life can make their will effective. It will be recalled that Tammany descended upon the Convention of 1928 militant for its candidate and his ideals. To-niglit tlie caucus of the New York States Democrats was held. It was attended by 94 delegates, the principal part of whom Tammany. There war, the question of the abrogation of the rule that a twothirds majority vote of the Convention is required for nomination. This was discussed and voted on. Ex-Governor Al. Smith, Mayor Walker of New York, and Mr John Curry, who is the chief Sachem of the Tammany Society, and other nationally known Tammanyites, attended the Caucus. The Australian Press Association representative, who was present, says that the Caucus was a tame affair. Over every face was written defeat. It was almost pathetic to note with what stimulated fiercer.,cuss the Caucus adopted 'a resolution by 6-3 votes : to 27, favouring the retention of the -twothirds majority rule, as if that could stop the Roosevelt, trend which has become umnistakeablc in many ways, Tlu? Australian Prec* Association re» presentative adds: The urban Catholic centres of the States of Massachusetts and Illinois jn tlie 3928 Democratic Convention sent delegation/? that bravely supported Tammany, but tlie unitefi front lias now collapsed. Tlie Illinois delegation yesterday virtually declared for Mr Roosevelt. An important question that is now being asked is whether Tammany will not “knife” Roo-' evelt at the polls, if he is nominated.” .