The border vidette., 1932-07-02
BARKlEY DENOUNCES G. o. p
RULE-ASKS FOR REPEAL


through three administrations
and a plea for a vote on repeal
of the 18th amendment were laid
before the Democratic national
convention today in the keynote
speech of Speaker Alben w.
Barkley of Kentucky.
The Kentuckian punched and
jabbed INCREASINGLY at bis Re-
publican foes-calling the Hard
ing administration the "darke est
chapter Of public betrayal in the
history of this or any other
nation" heaping blame on Presi.
dent Coolidge and Secretary
Mellon for an orgy of specula
ton and irritation that bad no
foundation in real Values" and
termiug the Republican plank
on prohibition "a promiscucus
agglomeration of Scrap Lum.
ber."
Barkley denounced President
Hoover and the Republicans for
the "exhorbitant and indefensi
rates" of the Snoot- Hawley
tariff act and promised TO lift
tariff making above the sordid
processes of log rollers and
back scratchers."
The keynoter gave over the
major part of his speech to mis-
takes be charged to the Repub
lican party since 1929. He did
not go into the prohibition ques
ton rather deeply, however. and
urged that the convention re
commend the passage by con.
gress of resolution submitting
a repeal Of the 18th amendment
for ratification by the people
through state conventions whose
delegates shall be chosen upon
this issue alone.
II the people are to pass
again upon this question:" be
declared, "let them pass upon
it in such bald, naked and une
quivocaf terms as to make their
decision intelligent and certain" I"
The history of the stock mar
ket boom" was recounted and
blame for the collapse was plac-
ed upon the leaders at the helm
cf the nation. Barkley said ex.
peuses Of the national govern
mert had increased under Presi
dent Coolidge more than $3.50,
600, ,OOO." He gave credit to the
present Democratic house for
reducing President Hoover's re
quests for appropriations by
more than $11O,O0O.CO
He bespoke enactment of laws
setting up cooperative agencies
through which the farmer may
work out his own problems over
a period of years. along with a
recommendation to take the gov
ernment out of the dubious ad
venture of speculation" in farm
products, and installation at the
head of the department of agri
culture of secretary who has
some knowledge of the subject
and some sympathy for those
who struggle with it,"
He promised that the Demo.
Gratis would abolish every use.
less Office, every unnecessary
bureau and commission" and
proposed that the Democrats
solve the tariff problem by in
augurating friendly International
conferences with a view to re
opening normal trade channels
the world and make the tariff a
fact finding body for congress-.
TO strengthen the banking
structure be urged giving con
sideration to revising the federal
reserve act to insure more direct
contact with commercial banks
and borrowers.
He ridiculed fine spun" dis
tinctions between local and Ia
tional responsibility on unem
ployment and deplored "sopho
moric dispute over the identity
of first aid" while the nation 8
defenders and their depepend
ents suffer from want and ne
glect."
Barkley advocated considera
ton of the five day week or the
six hour day as possible solu
ton of employment problems
growing out of the country's in
dustrial advances and, conclud
ing, declared
10 all the generations Of
American history the people in
every great crisis have turned to
the Democratic party to lead
them from the wilderness OF
disappointment and disaster.
walking practices" deaths and