Evening star., 1936-06-24
Delegates Late
for Routine
Session.
STAGE STARS
INTRODUCED
Senator RObinsOn's
Speech Tonight
Is Awaited.
Full Text Of keynote Speech
on Pages AS and A-9.
BY G. GOULD LINCOLN,
Staff Correspondent Of The Star.


PHILADELPHIA, June "a The
Resolutions Committee of the Demo-
cratic National Committee today is
wrestling with all important platform
planks, dealing with the Constitution.
the currency. the farm problem and
foreign relations.
The convention, meanwhile. meeting
more than an hour late for its sched-
uled noon session, gave itself up to
routine work and then staged a show
Tor the delegates. with the introducing
OF celebrities of the opera, stage, screen
and radio. It's main session will be
held tonight. when the permanent or
ganlzation will be perfected and with
the election of Senator Joseph T.
Robinson Of Arkansas. Robinson will
tear into the Republicans and defend
the New Deal in an address to the
delegates.
Constitution Adequate.
The original draft of the platform,
framed in Washington and brought
here by Senator Wagner. declared
tnat We believe the principles of our
social and economic program are with
IN the existing framework of the
Constitution.
II this line of reasoning is adhered
to, the platform will contain no pro-
posed constitutional amendment, either
to give the Federal Government power
to deal with social and economic ques-
tlons nor to extend the power to the
States. There is divergence of opinion
among the Democrats whether they
should have a plank proposing, even
remotely, constitutional amendment.
Some are strongly opposed. Others
favor such plank. Those who believe
that the platform should deal with
constitutional amendment are divided
also, one group holding out for a
Federal amendment and another for
the amendment granting powers to the
States.
To Weigh thirds Rule.
The Committee on Rules, headed by
Senator Bennett Clark of Missouri, is
slated to meet at pm. with the con-
troversial amendment to the conven-
tion before it doing away with the
old two-thirds rule of nominating can
didates for President and Vice Presi-
dent.
Delegation after delegation has voted
to support the change Arizona was
another which today came into line
with the wishes of the administration
leaders that the two-thirds rule be
thrown overheard and a majority rule
substituted.
There was an echo in the convention
Of the Barkley keynote speech of last
night.
Cordell Hull, Secretary of State and
delegate from Tennessee, presented
resolution praising Senator Barkley
Of Kentucky for his address to the
convention. It was adopted with a
rising vote Of the delegates.
Mrs. Roosevelt Mentioned.
The name Of Mrs. Roosevelt, wife
Of the Present, came prominently be-
fore the delegates to the National Con-
vention today for the first time.
When Rev. Marshall SHEPPARD, COL
ored pastor of the Mount Olivet Bap-
tist Church of Philadelphia, offered
the prayer at the opening of the con-
vention session, he said:
BLESS the President of these United
States and all of the officers of our
Government. We are indeed thankful
for the significant contribution that
both President and Mrs. Roosevelt
have made to the general welfare and
happiness of the masses of citizens
throughout this Nation
Included in the membership of the
Committee on Rules, which will pass
on the question Of abrogation of the
two-thirds rule, are five Senators, one
Of them Bennett Clark, who is to be
chairman. The others are Tydings of
Maryland, Coolidge of Massachusetts,,
Murray of Montana and Chavez of New
Mexico. Two members of the House,
John j. O'Connor of New York, acting
Democratic leader of the House, and
r. L. Doughton of North Carolina,
chairman of the Ways and Means
Committee, are also members of the
committee. Gov. Clyde L. Herring is
Michigan's representative on rules.
With the keynote of the campaign
sounded by Senator Barkley of Ken
lucky still ringing in their ears, the
delegates were late in assembling.