Evening star., 1932-04-17

delegates will dominate that commit
tee and when it meets Mr.. Smith. II he
be a member of the committee, will not
be picked for chairman. That is what
the Roosevelt Democrats are saying
now.
Each State. territory and the District
represented in the national convention
by a delegation will have its member
of the Platform Committee. At meet
ing of the Committee on Arrangements
for the Democratic National Convention
in Chicago on April 4. a resolution pre-
sented by former Gov Byrd of Virginia
was adopted authorizing the chairman
tc call upon each State, territorial or
other delegation 10 the convention to
pick its member of the Platform Com
mittee and to notify the chairman of
its selection. so that the members of
the Platform Committee will be able to
meet in Chicago on June % at 10 am,
the day before the Democratic conven-
ton meets. The purpose of Mr.. Byrd S
resolution was to make 1t possible for
the committee TO get down to work on
the platform as early as possible. The
appointment of the committee would, of
course, have to be ratified by the con-
vention when it meets.
Hull Is Authority on Tariff.
In view Of the Importance of the work
of drafting the national platform. it is
expected that each State delegation will
give earnest attention to the selection
of its member on the Platform Com
mittee
Senator Hull is recognized authority
among the Democrats on the tariff and
revenue. He served for many years as
a member of the House Ways and
Means Committee before he became a
member Of the Senate and at present
he is a member of the Senate Finance
Committee which deals with those mat
ters. The tariff threatens to be a major
issue in the coming campaign. So far
as prohibition is concerned, Senator
Hull has held that it is not properly a
party issue. He was outspoken at a
meeting of the Democratic National
Committee last March against a pro-
poSai of Chairman John j. Raskob that
the committee undertake to recommend
his home rule" plank on the liquor
question to the national convention for
inclusion in the Democratic national
platform. At that time Gov. Roosevelt
threw his influence against Raskob in
this matter. and made himself many
friends in the South and West thereby
But many of the Democrats. includ-
ing former Gov. Byrd of Virginia, who
have been and still are supporters of
national prohibition, have come to the
conclusion there is no particularly good
reason why they and the party should
not favor referendum or resubmisSion
OF the liquor question to the people
They believe that by such a course it
will be possible to avoid a great deal
o trouble over the liquor issue in the
campaign. Mr.. Byrd's position at the
March meeting of the Democratic Ma
tional Committee was much the same
as that Of Senator Hull on the Raskob
home rule" plank for the Democratic
platform. Mr.. Byrds present frank
declaration in favor of the submission
OF the national prohibition question TO
vote Of the people has convinced
many of the Democrats there is TO be
declaration favoring a referendum at
the convention.
G. o. p. Eyes Developments.
The Republicans. who have their
problem to thresh out over the prohibi-
ton question as well as the Democrats,
have given careful attention to the re-
cent developments among the Demo-
Gratis. When they see drys like Mr.. Byrd
coming out for resubmission they are
more and more inclined to the belief the
@. o. P. should at least give promise Of
a referendum on the liquor question II
their party platform. too. While not
willing 10 be quoted. one Of the Repub-
licans high In party councils. who has
hitherto been regarded as dry. said ne
was convinced the G o. P would have
TO do something about it." Furthermore,
although Bishop James Cannon, jr.. Is
not Republican. the fact that he has
given approval 70 the basal" PROPOSE
tions contained in the Byrd plan has
rot been overlooked BY the Republicans.
Bishop Cannon, il is true. has continued
70 assert there should be no planks at
tacklng prohibition in either party plat
form. Bit the mere fact he has ap-
proved in the main the Byrd plan is
seized upon as showing a change Of
heart on the part Of some Of the ultra
drys who originally declared against
any vote on prohibition
In the Republican National Conyen-
tion the contest will be, in ali proba-
ol!lty, between those VINO wish no refer
enoum plank and those who favor one
The g. o. p. viii N no case, il is
FId' CftAd4S 4pi oAL-dUC-Dut lspfdI
Of the eighteenth amendment But the
chances for referendum plank are
Frightening it is said. With both ma
tional parties on record for a refer
endum. the politicians on both sides
hope TO be able 10 avoid lot Of grief
and TO eliminate prohibition as an
issue to very large extent from the
presidential campaign.
II Is admitted this would not suit
Al Smith and other extremely vet
Democrats who would like to make pro-
hibition a major issue.
HT0E AMI 0IIUEI MEET