“ This Hypocrisy ”

Sun (Auckland), Volume II, Issue 381, 15 June 1928, Page 9

“ This Hypocrisy ”

PROHIBITION ASSAILED

But Republicans Are “Drys”

Reed. 10.30 a.m. KANSAS CITY, Thursday. The delegates to the Republican Convention foregathered this morning, certain that the minority report of the Platform Committee on the agricultural plank would he brought to the floor of the convention, and a test vote demanded. The minority group is, of course, spurred by the Lowden-Curtis-Watson alliance, and aside from demanding “legislation aimed to restore and maintain the purchasing power of farm products, and complete the economic equality of agriculture,” is also asking for legislation to solve the problem of the disposal of surplus agricultural products. This is a feature of the McNary-Haugen farm relief measure, to which President Coolidge and Mr. H. C. Hoover are irrevocably opposed. SOME SNAKE-DANCES Senator Reed Smoot (Utah) chairman of the Platform Committee, began to read a ponderous platform document. His voice was bad. Shouts of “Louder!” continuously interrupted, and the chairman nearly broke his gavel trying to maintain order. Senator Smoot shouted and quickly grew hoarse. The first actual mention of Mr. Hoover’s name in the platform, commending his activities in connection with the Mississippi flood relief, produced half a minute’s applause, and a few diminutive snake-dances from the delegates.

ATTACKING the Eighteenth Amendment at the United States Republican Convention, the President of the Columbia University, spoke scornfully of “the hypocrisy of prohibition.” But he got little support, and was straightway voted down. (United P.A.—By Telegraph — Copyright) (Australian Press Association.)

Senator R. M. La Follette, son of the lata senator who was the stormy petrel of the platform of the Senate, presented the minority side. It was the thrill of the convention to hear the “baby senator,” one of the youngest Federal legislators and the b e s/t speaker yet to ad- - dress the conven- „ . _ ~ Senator La Follette The crowd, which a moment before had cheered the commendation of the Coolidge Administration, now cheered as enthusiastically Senator La Follette’s x’ebukes of President Coolidge for vetoing the McNary-Haugen Bill. Senator Laf Follette condemned the huge navy idea as being conducive of war and military conscription. He condemned the oil scandals, and asked Republicans to repudiate the ■other Republicans involved in them. THE FARMERS’ WARNING As Senator La Follette continued, he grew frankly Socialistic, demanding increased inheritance taxes to diminish fortunes that were based on war profits, and condemning the reduction of income taxes on large corporations. The convention now was not cheering. The vote was put to the convention, and it overwhelmingly voted against Senator La Follette’s platform. Delegate Smith, of Illinois, the spokesman of Mr. F. O. Lowden, presented the minority agriculture plank. Delegate Murphy, of Minnesota, warned the Republican Party that