Evening star., 1936-06-26
,BARK[EY IS FIRST
81 TO OPEN ATTACK
Robinson Follows Up With
Charge Kansan StraddIes
L" Issues.
BY URIC BELL.

BY Uric BELL.
PHILADELPHIA, June 26 IN. A.
N. A.).-In the eyes Of the New Deal
ers Gov. Landon Is to be merely the
1896 version of Herbert Hoover and
all that was represented by that
former President.
This was made plain today as the
Democratic convention went forward
with the process Of taking the Of
fensive against its opposition and
with that of recreating, as far as pos
sible, the alignment marking the
campaign of 1882.
AS Senator Barkley did in making
the keynote speech Tuesday night,
Senator Robinson, the next night. re-
assumed his 1882 role of permanent
r chairman and, like Senator Barkley,
keyed his attack upon the old deal to
the tempo of four year ago.
Like Senator Barkley, too, Senator
Robinson reused the convention by en-
couraging supporters of President
Roosevelt to speak their minds with
firmness and emphasis" regarding the
course of the Supreme Court majority
which has invalidated New Deal en-
actments through what are held to be
rigid technical interpretations or anti
quated constitutional conceptions.
BarkIey Sets Pace.
On tbs score Senator Barkley set the
pace when, assailing interpretations OF
the Constitution by the majority, he
pointed the way for action by the con-
vention. Platform makers were then
working on plank to say, in effect. as
President Roosevelt did in his Arkan-
sas speech, that the Democratic party
believes the fundamental charter to
be road enough, If properly inter-
preted, to enable the Federal Govern
ment to operate in a national way to
meet modern social and economic
problems. They were considering a
proposition put by Senator Barkley
that there be, in particular, redef1ni-
tion of interstate commerce, the point
on which the high court has bowled
over several major New Deal enact
ments.
1t is known that President Roose-
welt scanned closely and approved
Senator Barkley's discussion OF the
court and the Constitution and that
he was one Of the first to telephone
the Kentucky Senator his congratu-
lations after his keynote.
Gov. Landon and his running mate,
Col. Knox, are to be put under direct
fire from now on in the campaign the
New Deal Is planning. From both
Senator Barkley and Senator Robin
son, the Kansan already has received
opening salvos. But he is to be linked
throughout with the ill-fated regime
of MIR. Hoover, as well as with other
figures and factors which the Demo-
Gratis deem to be liabilities. Mr..
Hoovers prominence and influence at
Cleveland aids the Roosevelt sup
porters in this respect.
In line with these tactics the DEM
ocratic National Committee itself
arranged to send out two crews Of
farm hands, with mule-drawn moving
machines, rake and hay wagon,
to search along Broad and Market
streets for the grass Mr.. Hoover said
in 1882 would grow in city streets If
Mr.. Roosevelt were elected. The COM
mittee reported that the crews could
find no substantiation Of "Mr.
Hoover's bilious prophecy"
And Mr. Landon, because Of his
reputation of certain planks OF his
party's platform at Cleveland, is slated
by Democratic strategy to be cast IN
the mold Of vacillation which Is
charged against Mr.. Hoover. Senator
Robinson did his utmost to show that
Landon straddled after the platform
was fashioned in order to meet con-
dicting demands.
Broader Action Necessary.
As for the constitutional issue, how
ever, the Democrats, no longer timid
on the subject, believe the formula
produced by Senators Barkley and
Robinson opens the way for candid
discussion of q subject hitherto al
most politically taboo. They con-
slider it to be far sounder stand than
that superimposed on the Republican
platform by Mr.. Landon, who only
ventured to ask that the way be left
open, in case of necessity, for Fed
eral amendment designed only to give
more power to the States than they
now have to deal with minimum
wages and maximum hours for women
in industry New Dealers contend
that it will take much broader action
or Interpretation than that to meet
social and economic
necessities.
The strafing of Gov. Landon, based
both on his past record and that of
the Cleveland convention, is progress
sively getting hotter while the party
looking ahead, are hold
ing conferences here with q view to
the most Of the fact that
Republican National Chairman John
Hamilton applauded the AL Smith
outcry against Roosevelt and ex-
tended open arms to Mr.. Smith and
his fellow dissenters. Leaders are
predicting that nothing will be over
looked in the way Of linking the Lam
don camp with Mr.. Smith and his
angry Liberty Leaguers.
Senator Barkley went after Gov.
Iandon on three counts. First, he
accused him Of denouncing the Fed
eral law guaranteeing bank deposits
before the American Bankers Asso-
citation and exerting all his influence
to prevent the State of Kansas from |
the system. Then, indirect
ly, he lashed at him by saying, re-
garding relief, that some States were
able to balance their budgets because
they made no contribution out Of their
treasures to feed or clothe or house
The helpless" Again, Senator Bark
ley cited that, three years ago, Gov. |
now the advocate Of a re-
turn to the gold standard, urged "the
payment of public and private debts
in money Of the printing press, re-
deemable In neither silver nor gold"
lCopyright. 1896. by the North American
Newspaper Alliance. Inc.)