Evening star., 1936-06-26
PLATFORM MLAUDED
BY PARTY CHIEFS
Plank Urging Improved Merit
System Praised by
Woman Voters.
nv WILL KENNEDY.

PHILADELPHIA, June 26.-Lead-
ers in the party. convention ohcers
and representatives of large groups
interested in special planks today ex-
pressed qualification over the plat
form. as a whole and in regard to
particular planks.
Senator Barkley of Kentucky, the
"keynoter" of the convention, said:
~The platform is an admirable ex-
preston of the convictions and pur-
poses of the Democratic party. The
plank on agriculture not only con-
firms what we have been attempting
for the farmer, but holds out the hope
of greater accomplishments in the
futnre-and means what it says. y" .
"On the whole, it is one of the
most constructive and far-reaching
platforms ever adopted by any politi-
cal party and, in my opinion. the
platform and President Roosevelt will
be overwhelmingly indorsed in No
vember."
The National League of Women
Voters, who with Luther c. Steward,
president of the National Federation
of Federal Employees. urged a plank
pledging improvements in the merit
system under civil service, through
Mrs. Larue Brown of Boston, director
OF the league.
Civil Service advance"
"The definite statement of policy in
regard to the civil service in the 1896
Democratic platform is a marked ad-
vance over the party's, position in 1882,
when the platform failed to mention
civil service. The League of Women
Voters interLrets this declaration to
mean immediate extension of the civil
service to include all postmaSters,
deputy collectors of internal revenue,
United States marshals and other posi-
tions long considered patronage jobs.
THE League of Women Voters,
which early advocated inclusion of New
Deal agencies in the classified civil
service, is greatly encouraged by the
platform commitment on this point.
Failure Of the platform to pledge
repeal of section 213 of the 1882
economy act is great disappointment.
Until its repeal, the Federal civil serv-
ice will not offer equal opportunity to
all qualified persons"
Il am delighted with the platform, !"
said Harold L. Ickes. Secretary of the
Interior and public works admins
TRAITOR THE whole tone. of the docu-
ment impressed me. 1t is so different
from the usual platform and in con-
trast with the Republican statement
of policies. The Democratic platform
is frank, straightforward and in the
interest of all the people, and not Of
any group or class"
Mrs. O'Day Pleased.
Representative Caroline O'Day, chair
man of the special committee of IA
which drafted a plank program Of
platform suggestions from the wom-
ems division, and Miss Mary w. Dew
son, chairman of the Advisory Com
mittee, who were spokesmen for women
before the Platform Committee. ex-
pressed qualification that seven OF
their eight planks had been included.
They professed pleasure that the
word women" did not appear, and
Miss Dewson said, "It's wonderful
at last we have become people" The
seven planks urged by women that
were accepted cover control of youth,
civil service, freedom Of speech and
press, housing. education and consum-
er interests. They regretted that the
only one omitted was one opposing
section 213" of the economy act, pro-
viding that when reduction in force
becomes necessary the discharge shall
apply first where husband and wife
hold Federal jobs.
Miss Dewson was jubilant.
Look here" she cried, "here
where it says we stand for protection
Of the family and the home-for
establishment of a democracy Of op-
portunity for all the people, and for
aid to those overtaken by disaster
Isn't that fine?"
And now this about the farmer!
Oh my! That sums up our whole po-
sition. I was sitting beside a farm
woman when that was read out, and
she leaned over and said: To think
I'd live to see the day when great
political party would do this for u.s.
Miss Dewsons attention was called
to the fact that nowhere in the doc
ument Is the word woman" used.
In one phrase of the labor section