Show FRANKLIN D ROOSEVELT e 71 f I 1 A y V I 1 A 41 jj w J W t va g 1 S N aim W im r M 5 k 1 ama M MA MI 1 1 41 DEMO convention IS COLORFUL AFFAIR roosevelt and garner are the whole show at philadelphia convention by W C WEBBER convention hall philadelphia franklin delano roosevelt for president philadelphian Phila delphias monster convention hall rocked as delegates and spectators leaped to their feet roaring approval of their standard bearer in the con coming ang election it was a jub jubilant spontaneous outburst the beginning of a demonstration seldom equalled equal led in convention history and the climax of four days waiting by most of the delegates all through this rather tame convention ven tion the name of roosevelt was magic the somewhat apathetic audience judged by convention standards could be stirred into animation only by the utterance of his name but the demonstrations on those occasions left nothing to be desired they were not the carefully man aged chairman directed affairs of other conventions held in the past but the heartfelt expression of people to whom the democratic candidate is 13 the hope of country and party up would rise the state standards as chairman delegates and alternates swarmed into the aisles a cheering dancing singing throng the giant organ and the brass band perched high on the west side of the convention hall would be drowned out in the tumult and the convention chairman held helpless until the demonstrations st finally would wear themselves out Is colorful scene all the usual trimmings of a national political convention were on hand at philadelphia the approach to the convention hall cluttered with the customary army of hawkers of novelties which ranged all the way from souvenir buttons to pseudo brass horns the milling mob of onlookers anxious for a glimpse of the great graat and near great badges badges everywhere and more badges all were there inside the hall a shouting singing laughing crowd filling every seat great spotlights playing over the scene telegraph boys rushing copy from the press sections where perspiring newspaper workers toiled at the task of catching the next edition movie cameramen news photographers swarming over the hall intent radio workers the gaily decorated platform pictures of the candidates state standards microphones flags and bunting the blaring brass band and the rumbling organ that never quite get together on any tune the wild applause whenever dixie is played a typical convention scene platform holds interest there was no doubt as to the final dominations or that the convention would rould unanimously endorse the new deal it was franklin D roosevelt and john N garner in a unanimity that has not been accorded a democratic ticket since cleveland was nominated since there were no other candidates chief interest was centered in the platform and in the abrogation of the democratic bartys two thirds rule which has governed nominations since the party was founded the platform was completed only after a 13 hour session of the subcommittee held behind closed doors chief difficulty was in evolving a satisfactory wording of the bartys stand on the constitutional amendment issue full pressure of radical groups was brought to bear but with out effect the final draft omitted this flat declaration but left the question largely open to whatever action might be taken by party leaders during the coming campaign formation of this plank was one of the events that did not run according to schedule anticipating difficulty only from the conservative quarter senator robert wagner of new york biad had selected as members of the drafting group six new deal senators one ex senator two administration officials fici als two delegates with liberal tendencies and senator david 1 I walsh of massachusetts the only conservative serva tive tiie but one who is sufficiently practical to recognize the overwhelming odds of 11 to 1 proceedings strike snag but something struck a snag weary news hawks watched through the night outside the room where the subcommittee sub committee was meeting finally at 5 in the morning the doors swung open and the members obviously exhausted after the sess session ion filed out in grim silence even senator wagner who is usually very courteous was inclined to be curt final accord was reached in the af afternoon ter session session the final form of the platform puts the party on record as favor favoring ing amendment of the constitution it if 1 E I 1 I 1 I 1 I 1 1 rm 1 I T 64 wy V JOHN N GARNER necessary for the enactment of federal or state laws adequately to regulate commerce protect public health and safety and safeguard economic security it is understood that president roosevelt desired to win from the committee a plank sufficiently vague in its language to permit him either to advocate or ignore the issue surrounding the adoption of such an amendment ignore labor demand other points in the platform which had been awaited with deep interest particularly those dealing with agriculture and with labor were left equally open to future action by party leaders the section on agriculture pledges a continuance of soil conservation and domestic allotment programs recognizes the evils of farm tenancy and pledges the full operation cooperation co of the government in long term re financing of farm indebtedness at the lowest possible rates of interest and encourages practical farm operatives cooperatives co the labor plank was something of a surprise to many who had looked for a more definite declaration after pointing out various new deal accomplishments the plan reads we will continue to protect the worker and we will guard his rights both as wage earner and consumer in the production and consumption of all commodities including coal and water power and other natural resource products A demand from organized labor that the party agree to support a constitutional demand which would in validate any supreme court decision that was not arrived at by at least a six to three vote tell fell on barren soil however it is considered as fairly certain that president roosevelt will deal more specifically with these questions in his forthcoming campaign the way has been left completely open for action by the the candidate without him being bound by specific hampering platform declarations promise public works determination to proceed with the public works program in dealing w with i th unemployment is also voiced by the party declaration more than five million people have been re em aloyed according to the platform but where private business is unable to cope with the problem work prevailing wages should be provided in cooperation with state and local governments ern ments on useful public projects T there here was much speculation as to what would be the exact wording of the plank dealing with civil service the cleveland convention had brought this issue into prominence and it was necessary that the democratic party express its views on the subject immediate extension of the merit system ahr through ough the classified civil service to all non policy making positions in the federal service was pledged the party also declared for placing all continuing positions which have been exempt from its operation under the civil service law protection of consumer extension of rural electrification continuance of the housing program enforcement of criminal and civil provisions of the existing antitrust anti trust laws an and I 1 strengthening of the latter by new legislation were also pledged rumors run riot the question of sound money came in for its share of the rumors guesses most of which came from authoritative sources ranged from unrestricted inflation to an immediate return to the gold standard were rife the final platform draft states that while the party approves of a permanently sound currency so stabilized as to prevent wide fluctuations in value it believes in a currency which will permit full utilization of the coun arys resources reduction in government expenses which will eventually permit a balanced budget and reduction of the national debt were also pledged best received of the convention speeches in the opinion of many was the keynote address of senator alben W barkley of kentucky his excoriation of the republican party and praise of the new deal accomplishments was genuine political oratory which combined all the arts of sarcasm humor logic and pathos in a skillful blend which aroused the audience to wild enthusiasm he centered his attack on the record of the republican party during the twelve years prior to 1932 the policies of herbert hoover while in office and the liberty league little mention was made by him of the current republican candidates scores landon the latter task was left for senator joseph T robinson of arkansas who spoke in the role of a delegate at large instead of that of permanent chairman delay in the report of the credentials committee was responsible for this unusual change robinson charged that landon is preparing to bolt the republican platform citing his famous telegram to the cleveland convention which he pointed out was sent only after the nomination was assured robinson also scored the supreme court for its ruling invalidating the guffey soft coal control law and new york states minimum wage law the only real trouble within the convention hall came when a group in the gallery displayed banners proclaiming al smith as a real democrat no sooner had the banners been unfurled than fist fights broke out in the sections where the al AI smith banners were exhibited order was quickly restored and most of the dissenting group left the hall mack black nominates roosevelt enthusiasm in the convention hall reached its maximum friday when judge john E mack of new york placed the name of franklin D roosevelt in nomination the delegates let loose a delirium of sound that almost tore the top off the sound meter which stood at the left of the stage the demonstration which followed made all previous aff affairs airs of this kind look weak it was a genuine tribute to a party leader john nance garner texas idol was nominated for the office of vice president on saturday morning by a jubilant yelling convention ten gallon hats sailed through the air as the texas delegation whooped it up for the states favorite son garner is genuinely popular with the rank and file of the democratic party and the convention left no doubt about it but even this demonstration did not compare with that of saturday night when roosevelt delivered his acceptance speech at franklin field huge stadium ot 0 the university of pennsylvania all through the week the demand for or tickets to this event had far exceeded the supply and when roosevelt mounted the platform the big bowl was packed As he took his place at the speakers stand the famous roosevelt smile showed brightly but to those close enough to see there seemed to be more than pleasure mirrored in the nominees face when the crowd gave full vent to its delight in their chosen leader if there was a shade of mistiness in Roosevel ts eyes he could hardly be blamed no miji could receive such a tribute and remain untouched |