POLITICAL SHOWMANSHIP

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume LXXXI, Issue 19035, 12 June 1924, Page 2

POLITICAL SHOWMANSHIP

METHODS AT AMERICAN CONVENTION. PRESIDENTIAL CAMPAIGN. NEW YORK, June 10. With the calling to order of the Republican Convention today, began the great quatrennial political circus. The huge auditorium, seating 14,000 people, presented a particularly colourful picture, due to the great number of women who were present. The Convention is an especially large one, since women delegates have begun to participate in the parties’ deliberations. Calculated, excellently manoeuvred enthusiasm is in evidence as usual, the presiding official having direct telephonic communication with the brass bands situated in various parts of the auditorium, and telephoning directions to strike up particular State tunes in order to maintain a proper pitch of feeling among the various groups of delegates. Nothing actually is done on the spur of the moment; everything is previously planned at smoke-filled leaders’ rooms at the various hotels, but the outward appearance of democracy’s sway is excellently maintained in this present large-scale picture of successful political showmanship. One striking thing is the passing of old-time, powerful figures, who controlled the party. This is the day of new names and new combina T ions, although swayed by the same philosophy. It is little short of astounding to note the passing out of Senator Lodge, who, for the past sixteen years, was the giant behind the scenes at every Convention. Mr. Daugherty, who was directly respAisible for the nomination of Mr. Harding, and various other lessar kaown men, have retired into the Inr.bo of forgetfulness. The Ohio delegation, of which Mr. Daugherty is a member, declined to give him the chairmanship. Senator Lodge who was the Massachusetts delegation’s chairman in the past, is now only a simple delagate. Present day fixtures are Congressman Burton, President Burton (fof Michigan University). Mr. Butler (President Coolidge’s personal manager) and William Stearns (the Boston merchant who is Mr. Coolidge’s confidential adviser). The President is connected with several long distance telephone wires from Washington, viaintaining direct touch with these new forces. Senator La Follette and his Wisconsin delegation remain the most bitter irritant in the proceedings here. He lips announced that the Convention must repudiate the fall of Mr. Daugherty and must commend (he Senator with calling for the order for his oil investigations, and otherwise do things which cannot be done with the maintenance of essential harmony. The struggle over the final form of the platform continues unabated. The World Court is a question which just now has become a major issue. BUILDING THE PLATFORM NEW YORK, June 10. After Representative Burton's keynote speech, committees on resolutions, rules, credentials, and permanent organisations were appointed. The Convention then adjourned until to-morrow. The committees, however, went into session, and conflict of forces began. Women appearing before the permanent organisation committee asked that women should be made full fledged members of party organisations, especially of the national committee, where they now have only an advisory capacity. They feel that the enfranchisement only augmented the electorate without giving women an opportunity to plan new political ground. The resolutions committee, however, became the widest battlefield, following groups clamouring for the inclusion of special planks in the platform. Labour and manufacturers for higher tariff, the League of Philippine Independence and the Mission of Women, asking for a constitution amendment equalling women with men before the law, the Anti Ku-Klux Klan faction. Prohibitionists, Volstead modificationists, and a dozen other groups. The platform will naturally reflect the resultant forces.