Eagle River review. [volume] (Eagle River, Wis.) 1890-1927, 1924-06-19

dence everywhere of a new controlling
force in the party and that new force
for time, at least, is Calvin Coolidge.
Many Names Mentioned.
After the arrival of the first dele
gates two days previous to the open
ing of the convention and during the
first two days of it's sessions there
were but two subjects Of conversation.
The first, and considered the most I'M
portant by the Coolidge delegates, was
that of running mate for the Presi-
dent Many names we're mentioned,
and several Of those named had den-
nitely expressed wish, and in some
cases practically demand that they
not be nominated for second place on
the ticket. Members of the delegations
wanted to hear from Coolidge. They
wanted to know his choice, and they
were more than willing to ratify his
selection. AS one of the new leaders
expressed it, s'the delegates, represent
ing, as they do, the rank and file OF
the party, realize that President Cool
idge is the greatest asset of the party
and they wish to follow the lead OF
the man who has commanded the re-
spect of the rank and file"
Lowden had been a favorite with
the administration, but his definite
statement that he would not accept
the nomination had been taken as
final. His name, however, was pre-
sented to the convention, and despite
the announcement from the platform
that he would not run, and despite the
fact that the influence Of the admins
tration leaders was not then for him,
the delegations, led by Arizona, took
things into their own hands and nomi-
mated him on the second ballot. Thir-
ty minutes later came his positive
declination of the place, the second In
cident Of the kind in the history of the
nation, the first being when Sem
ator Silas Wright Of New York de-
clined in 1874, when he was nominated
on the Democratic ticket AT an eve
ming session Gen. Chas. G. Dawes was
named as the running mate for Cool
idge.
The La Toilette Platform.
The second subject was that of the
attitude of the LaFollette wing of the
party on the question Of platform
planks. Early in the first session on
Tuesday there was distributed to the
delegates copies of the platform pro-
posed by the Wisconsin senator and his
followers and offered to the resolutions
committee by Henry Allen Cooper, the
Wisconsin member Of the committee.
This proposed platform carried dras-
tic condemnation OF the legislation
enacted by both parties during several
past administrators. It declared for
the public ownership Of water power.
the public control Of natural re-
sources; repeal of the Esch-C ummins
law; public ownership Of railroads !;
drastic curtailment of war aud navy
expenditures; tax on excess profits;
the making public Of tax returns; cleo
ton of federal judges without paTxv
designation; reduction in freight
rates for farm products; abolish In
functions in labor disputes; protection
for farmers organizations and coilec-
tive bargaining; granting Of cash
bonus to soldiers; deep waterways
from the lakes to the ocean; amend
ments to the Constitution to provide
for the direct election Of President. a
federal initiative and referendum, and
a referendum on war. There were
some other less important planks.
The whole question Of the platform
was fought out In the resolutions COM
mittee on Tuesday night and Wednes-
day, and when its report was made at
the convention session on Wednesday
night 1t was adopted with but little
fuss, and despite the protest of Sena-
tor LaFollette's followers.
Political history was made by the
adoption Of the report Of the commit
tee on credentials on Wednesday morn
ing. The party now stands definitely
committed to limitation of represen-
tation from the southern States. This
was done by providing for representa-
ton in the conventions of the party
based on the percentage of Republican
electors elected from each state. 1t is
sd worded as to rather increase the
representation in both the number of
delegates and the members of the ma
tfonal committee In Republican states
instead Of materially decreasing either
the number of delegates or national
committeeman from those states that
are recognized as distinctly Demo
cratic.
Political history was made in an
other instance when it Is voted to give
the women the same voice in party
affairs as that enjoyed by the men.
The movement for this was led by Mrs.
Medill Mccormick of Illinois, and when
proposed to the convention 1t went
through with but few dissenting votes
and was loudly cheered by the women.
Reporters at Sea.
There was continuous commotion
in the press stand at the Cleveland
show. The gray heads of the news
paper world who have been reporting
political conventions for years found 1t