TAMMANY REFORMED

Sun (Auckland), Volume II, Issue 391, 27 June 1928, Page 11

TAMMANY REFORMED

Wooing the Old South HOT OIL FOR REPUBLICANS Breezy Times at Houston (United P.A.—By Telegraph — Copyright) (Australian Press Association.) Reed. 9.5 a.m. HOUSTON (Texas), Tuesday. THE Democrat delegates foregathered at noon for the short preliminary meeting at which the convention is organised. The amazing ascendancy of Tammany Hall is evident. It is not the old Tammany which in American political annals earned the same reputation as the Mafia did in Italian criminal annals. The Old South has hated Tammany, and to make the Old South accept Tammany’s candidate, Governor A 1 Smith, Tammany has radically altered itself.

Two special trains bearing Tammany delegates have left New York with huge placards, “Tammany Special”; but it is a known fact that Judge Olvany, leader of Tammany Hall, has telegraphed that such placards be removed. There was to be no band on the trains; there was to be no drinking. “Tammany must arrive at Houston ‘right,’ and stay right.” Seven judges of the higher courts of New York, all Tammany men, circulated through the two special trains, whispering these orders; and all the job-holders brought here to provide atmosphere listened and heeded well. Tammany has learned social amenities. Tammany, with its old cunning and political trickery, has learned new ways. This is the most startling outgrowth of the present Convention. Mr. Claude Bowers, the New York journalist, delivered the “keynote speech,” a document with nothing but burning oil in it tor the Republicans. “American democracy is mobilised to-day to wage a war of extermination against privilege and pillage. Oilman Sinclair has paid his debts to the Republican Party.” The speaker recounted all the details of the alleged corruption and pollution of the Harding Administration. “W i t hin five months,” he cried, “conditions at Washington became scandal and stench.” He attacked the Republican treatment of the farmer, and the extension of privilege to business. “A few powerful corporations are rich; but the small business man is bankrupt.” The speaker excoriated the Repub-

lican “Dollar diplomacy,” -which brought about war with Nicaragua, and concluded: “The battle-hour has struck, then, to your tents Oh Israel.” HYMNS BY “DRYS" The hall, a huge wooden structure seating 25,000 persons, was like a moderately hot oven under the Texas sun, despite huge electric blowers in the roof. The first picturesque touch was the march around the floor of a cowboy band, behind a cowgirl in blazing red on a prancing horse. Early in the proceedings there were shouts of “We want Al,” while women from the Georgia delegation, which is intensely dry, got on chairs and sang hymns. Ex - Congressman Upshaw, of Georgia, a noted prohibitionist, waved his crutches. The only parts of the hymns heard above the din were an occasional “Glory, Glory, Hallelujah!!” It was a hard gathering to bring to order. Chairman Shaver, of the Democratic National Committee, pounded with his gavel for 20 minutes ineffectively. He was greeted by jeering whistles. Kleig lights flared. It was fantastic. EIGHTEENTH AMENDMENT When the Convention got down to business, it only had a few gavels to accept from patriotic societies, and listen to speeches of welcome. It then recessed until 7 to-night. Meanwhile, in the commitee rooms, the discussion hangs on whether the words “Eighteenth Amendment” should be included in the compromise plank, the general terms of which were agreed upon, namely, strict lawenforcement and condemnation of the Republican administrations, and lax enforcement of the Volstead law. Vice-presidential possibilities now centre upon Senator Robinson, of Arkansas; but it is not likely that a definite alignment will occur until after the Presidential nomination is out of the way.