CONVENTION BOXING ON

Sun (Auckland), Volume II, Issue 392, 28 June 1928, Page 11

CONVENTION BOXING ON

Uproar Among Democrats FISTS FLY AT HOUSTON MEET Smith In the Ascendancy BOXING on ’ is a fistic expression that may well be used to describe the progress of the Democratic Convention at Houston, Texas. Some delegations, if they had had their way yesterday, would have turned the convention hall into a stadium. Once the police were called in to quell the uproar. (United P.A.—By Telegraph — Copyright) (Australian Press Association.J

Reed. 9.5 a.m. HOUSTON (Texas), Wed. In the Convention Hall the Democrats began their deliberations today to the tune of negro spirituals, which were rendered most melodiously by a group of Virginia coloured schoolgirls, brought here for the purpose. “Swing Low, Sweet Chariot,” was sung with great artistry, and brought cheers. The crowd, despite the really enervating heat, was enthusiastic, and the next moment it cheered as loudly a rapid-fire rendering of various Southern songs by three brassy bands. There were three solid hours of music before the Convention got down

tured products rather than increased duties on agricultural products, and held out the hope of giving the farmers the McNary-Haugen Bill. He caused astonishment by demanding that no “wet” plan be adopted in the Democratic platform. “This is neither a prohibition nor an anti-prohibition party,” he cried. The crowd was so surprised that it remained silent. He concluded with a plea for unity, saying, “Let not the Democrats suffer from self-inflicted wounds,” but the crowd went mad when he said religion was no disqualification for public office. It was an opportunity for the delegates to show they were for Governor Smith. They snake-danced with the State standards in their hands —a typical Democratic demonstration. BOUTS OF FISTICUFFS Considerable scuffling occurred and some really well-aimed blows to the jaw were given and received when the Georgia and Tennessee delegations quarrelled among themselves about whether • they should join the Smith demonstration. A fight in the Alabama delegation caused the summoning of eight policemen to protect the standard, and one Bobby brought his baton down upon the head of one obstreperous Alabaman. The blow rang clear like a bell above the fearful tumult. It was all good-natured horseplay in comparison with what has happened at previous Democratic Conventions. The picturesque New York Mayor, Mr. Jimmy Walker, who began his career as a song-writer, rose to offer a resolution for a recess until 7 o’clock in the evening, but the band interrupted with selections from his songs. The Convention then went into recess. The nomination and seconding speeches will probably begin tonight, since the platform is not yet completed. AN EXCELLENT CIRCUS Last evening, when the convention reassembled, it was strongly rumoured that the enforcement plank would not mention the Eighteenth Amendment by name. The hali was crowded to excess and the murmur and movement of the vast assemblage with the emotion it inevitably generated made the picture typically American. It was obvious that deliberation and seriouslyfashioned political decisions could not be arrived at in these surroundings. However, it was an excellent circus. Mr. Bower again spoke. His remarks were punctuated by shrieks of approval. When he again referred to the treatment of the farmers there was a demonstration which lasted a quarter of an hour. The convention then selected various committees and adjourned.

to business, and toward the end everybody seemed a little tired of it. Everybody milled about. It was too intensely uncomfortable for words. An attempt to seat a number of Louisiana delegates who were known to be opposed to Governor Al Smith, was overwhelmingly defeated by the Convention, indicating too clearly Governor Smitn’s ascendancy. CHAIRMAN’S ADDRESS Senator Joseph T. Robinson, of Arkansas, was chosen permanent chairman of the Convention. The conviction is growing hourly that he will be the vice-presidential nominee. He made a short address, beginning with a slurring reference to the long residence in Britain of Mr. H. C. Hoover, the Republican nominee for the presidency, intimating that this disqualifies him for the presidency. The speaker praised the late Dr. Woodrow Wilson, and otherwise covered the same ground as Mr. Claude Bowers did yesterday in his “keynote speech”; but he offered the farmers reduced tariff on manufac-