Evening star., 1936-06-11

Mr.. Hoover'S
speech was remarkably well received.
1t was challenge to the delegates
to write a fighting platform and to
wage fighting campaign.
AS for the platform, it is slowly
being formulated out of hundreds of
thousands of words of memoranda,
and will probably, when finished, oc-
cupy less than two columns of a
newspaper. The masters of condensa-
ton are at work, as are also the
technicians, who know what phrases
will harmonic party differences and
what phrases will help attract vote
getting groups dissatisfied with the
New Deal laws.
While the delegates shouted and
cheered Mr.. Hoover, the Platform
committee was wrangling, as is Gus
tomary, when 48 men meet to do in AZ
hours that which ought to take 48
days Apart from the Hoover demon
stration, which was lively enough and
gave the convention its first oppor-
tunlty for spontaneous enthusiasm, the
most interesting happening was that
which the radio listener outside the
convention hall had an opportunity
to hear. 1t was the speech of Presi-
dent Roosevelt in Arkansas, in COM
pariSon with the speech of Herbert
Hoover in Cleveland'S auditorium.
HOover's Charges.
Mr.. Hoover declared that the New
Deal is ignoring the Constitution and
undermining our system of govern
ment. Mr.. Roosevelt insisted that he is
marching under the broad purposes"
of the Constitution. incidentally. Mr..
Roosevelt argued that President jack
son bought the Louisiana Territory,
even though it was said such a step
was unconstitutional, but Mr.. Roose-
velt remarked that nobody carried
it to the Supreme Court"
AS a matter of fact, this is but
another way of saying the people
approved, and whenever they do ap-
prove, the Constitution is superseded,
especially when refusal to dispute
means acquiescence. Thus, during the
World War many an invalid act was
never challenged in the courts. This
occurs when the people are united.
When, however, any substantial num-
ber of the people have their rights
threatened, they appeal to the courts.
Nobody's rights inside the United
States were threatened by the Louisi-
ana purchase.
Mr.. Hoover in his speech referred
pointedly to the violations by the New
Deal of the Bill of Rights of the Con-
stitution, the clauses which protect
human freedom. He insisted the Re-
publican party must not permit the
Constitution to be undermined for any
reason.
Mr.. Roosevelt, on the other hand, in
his speech laid down the principle that
States can retain their sovereignty
only so long as they act efficiently and
effectively" Who is to decide it?
Who is to measure what constitutes
efficiency or effectiveness?
The Usual Way.
The custom has been: First, to let
the Supreme Court pass upon the va
lidity of laws which attempt to give
the National Government greater DOW
ers than the Constitution granted. And
second, the people in the proper way
can vote amendments to the Constt-
tuition if they want to take away pow
ers from the States.
Mr.. Hoover and the Republicans
think Mr.. Roosevelt wants a dictator
ship so he can do the deciding. That's
the real isue of this campaign and the
Hoover and Roosevelt speeches on
Wednesday night presented the con-
troversy in its fundamental aspects.
AS for the inner workings of this
convention, the art of fiiIibustering, SO
well imbedded in the senatorial mind,
has been skilfully introduced in the
Platform Committee as a means of
stalling off the final report and pro-
longing the session.
1t is, of course, not the strategy of
the Landon men, but the tactics of
the anti-Landon group who think that
every day gained weakens by that
much the Landon strength
Actually, however, the Landon dele
gates are not mere foam on the
surface. They are substantial and
will not be melted away by a length
ening of the convention. For the
majority-and a sizable majority at
that-wants to go home tomorrow
plight with Landon the nominee.
There are plenty ways of delaying
a NlQff0rY1a rnVNnFf DicayJCciayo Of fI1a
platform could conscientously occupy
weeks. Indeed, some day political
parties will appoint their Resolutions
Committees in advance and give the
voters in particular party a chance
through the usual channels of ex-
preston to register an opinion. This
Is a needed reform.
AS matters stand today, the fill
buSterers can do some damage by
dilatory moves, but in the end the
Landon management will have to
insist on vote and bring the plat
form report to the floor for ajority
and minority division, leaving it to
the convention to decide between the
differing viewpoints.
The big days at the convention
are today and tomorrow. If the Lam
don management forces out a plat
form report from the committee on
resolutions, the chances are the plat
form debate will occupy most of to-
days sessions. Then the nominating
speeches will come late tonight and
the balloting tomorrow. The anti
Landon forces are playing their game
of stalling in the hope that the plat
form report cannot be brought in
until tomorrow afternoon. They think
then that balloting could not pos
sibly be begun until Saturday, since
the nominating speeches must occupy
several hours, because of the number
of "favorite sons" whose names have
to be presented to the convention, and