Evening star., 1932-06-27
DELEGATIONS RUSH
TO BAND WAGON"
Democrats Also in 0ne-Man
Convention, Like G. 0. p,
Says Analyst.
BY WILLIAM ALLEN WHITE.


Democratic convention seems to be as
much a one-man convention as the
Republican convention was 10 days ago.
Roosevelt, judging by all the rules of
prophecy, has got it and gone. If he
has it, he will dictate the permanent
chairman. He will write the rules of
the game. He will visa the platform
and nominate himself early in the pro-
ceedings. not later than the third ballot.
Mr.. Hoover's hold upon the Repub-
lican convention the Sunday before 1t
convened did not seem stronger than
does Gov. Roosevelt's hold upon the
Democratic convention few hours be-
fore the gavel falls.
One hears of delegations, presumably
controlled by favorite sons. cracking all
over the place 1t sounds like Spring
thaw. At the headquarters of the Illi-
nois. Missouri. Texas delegations
everywhere, in fact-one hears rumors,
fairly authentic, of the breakup OF the
anti Roosevelt favorite son combina-
ton.
Tammany Silent.
The curious phase of this situation is
that Tammany has made no announce
ment Every one feels, and all the evi-
dence confirms the feeling, that Tam
many has no other interest than to
trade for Walkers advantage, and it is
evident. at least few hours before the
convention meets, that Roosevelt won't
trade. He has not offended Tammany,
but he is not putting the Walker case
into the jackpot, and every hour that
he refuses to trade the trade becomes
more and more unnecessary.
Unless all signs fail. or unless his VIC
tory is so well assured that he can
afford TO harmonize and will not need
the abrogation of the two-thirds rule
and the defeat of Shouse, Roosevelt'S s
friends will win both of these fights.
But enough favorite son delegations may
break open and stampede to Roosevelt
before the convention meets, so that
he may have unanimous nomination,
in which case he could well afford to
waive the abrogation Of the two-thirds
rule.
He will have more trouble writing the
platform than he will breaking the two
thirds rule A distinct element in the
convention fears Roosevelt because of
his alleged liberalism. His enemies call
1t "socialistic tendencies" The lib
erals desire a liberal platform with
rather definite promises for unemploy-
ment insurance, o1d-age pensions and q
lot of measures which 20 years ago in
the Bull Moose platform we're called
measures for social and industrial JUS
tice"
Tweedledum and Tweedledee.
1t is that sort of thing that gives the
conservative faction of the party an
uneasy pain. Roosevelt controls the
platform committee, but 1t was named
largely to see hts plank on prohibition
written. The prohibition plank will
differ from the Republican plank in two
things:
First. It will provide for a direct
Eyes" or mo" vote upon repeal, and
then,
Second. The Democratic platform
will reply for control of the interstate
liquor traffic not upon q substitute
amendment In the Constitution as the
Republican plank relies, but upon the
old Webb-Kenyon act-upon law rather
than the Constitution. Let us put 1t
in another way for the sake of clarity.
The Democratic plank promises the
abolition Of the saloon just as the Re-
publican plank does. 1t promises Fed
eral protection for dry States through
Federal control of the interstate liquor
traffic just as the Republican plank
does. But instead of promising to put
a substitute amendment in the Consti-
tuition covering this promise, the Demo-
Gratis promise to see that congressional
legislation effects the Federal control
of the interstate traffic in liquor enter
ing dry States.
The two planks are near enough to-
gether to permit any wet or dry. in
either party, to stay with his party and
stand on the party platform. The dif-
ference between the two planks Is be-
"a
Democratic plank uses palmer Ian
guage. The Republican plank is more
definite In its promises of a Federal
constitutional amendment to establish
Federal control of the interstate COM
merce in liquor.
But, like most liberals, the real RooSe-
velt leaders seem but list'essly interested
in the prohibition plank. 1t was thus
in the Republican convention. The
Democratic liberals in charge of the
Roosevelt band wagon are interested In
the economic measures. They are try
| ing to get some sort of platform prom
Use to wipe out the depression in the
Jeffersonian manner by beginning at
the bottom rather than by beginning at
| the top as the Republicans have begun,
| Probably Gov. RooSevelt's followers
will have more trouble with the eco
nomic plank than they will with the
prohibition plank. II the convention
bslks the New York Governor anywhere
before his nomination it will be in the
platform.
Bouts Full Of Color.
The preliminary bouts OF this conven-
! ton have been full of color. Candidates
| pictures In headquarters along the hall
! on the second floor of the Congress
Hotel are like banners before side
| show. White and brown tropical
clothes, straw hats and gay ties on the
men. Noise and clamor in the lobbies
| of the big hotels-all these make a
| strange contrast with the respectable
| formality which preceded the Repub-
| lican gathering here earlier.
In the milling crowds on Michigan
avenue, in the sweaty, heated throngs
that crowd in the hotel Hobbies. one
hears talk-lotS of talk. excited talk, and
1t seems to have no relation to reality.
Yet out of this interminable gabble
unduestionably there is already a no.
ticeable drift to a liberal poSition--a
position contrasting that of the crowd
here two weeks ago. GoSsips are naming
running mates for Roosevelt. The vice
presidential speculation picks upon q
man who would At the Roosevelt pic
ture and no other.
Senator Wheeler Of Montana is Sc
riously considered. His nomination
with the Roosevelt platform would give
the Democratic party a distinctly lib
eral cast which it has not held since
Wilson died and Bryan passed from the
Democratic scene.
Give this crowd another week and It
will be ready for a Bryan. The most
significant rumor that has thrilled
through the upper and wiser circles
among the hotel statesmen is that II
the twn-thirds NILE is aha ndo.,ad ard