Evening star., 1936-06-21

play for the Progressives, and Landon,
their presidential nominee, stepping
out as a Progressive himself, and the
new Union party ticket in the field,
the New Deal Democrats have a real
problem on their hands. 1t is too late
for them to bid for the more conserva-
tive element that Is up in arms against
Roosevelt and likely to stay. The
Democrats are hoping that the PRO
gressive conference" which Senator
Robert M. La Toilette, jr.. of Wiscon-
sin has announced will be held after
the Democratic National Convention,
will come to the aid Of President
Roosevelt.
Brief Platform Promised.
Take it by and large, there will be
great interest In the platform adopted
by the Democrats. Chairman Farley
said today he believed the platform
would be brief-not more than 1000
words. Despite charges by Republic
ans to the contrary. the Democratic
leader insisted the 1882 Democratic
platform had been carried out more
fully by the Roosevelt administration
than any party platform in recent
years.
Senator Wagner of New York, who
has been picked by the administration
forces to be chairman Of the Resolu-
tions Committee Of the national con-
vention, Is expected to reach here to-
morrow with a draft Of the platform
In his pocket. The details of the plat
form have been closely guarded by
President Roosevelt and Wagner, who
appear to be the. only two who know
what 1t contains generally.
The belief has been expressed thai
| the platform will not contain pro-
posal for a constitutional amendment
that President Roosevelt will take tn.
ground that all the reforms he ha'
proposed can be put through under tht
existing Constitution, provided q new
Interpretation Of that instrument car
be obtained. In other words, the com
plexion of the Supreme Court, which
construes the Constitution, may bt
changed through new appointment:
by President Roosevelt In the event
that he is reelected. Chairman Far
ley at his press conference said ht
should doubt that any proposed amend
ment would be contained in the party
platform. He added, II don't know
definitely" If that is the case. Landor
will be left advocating constitutions
change, If 1t be necessary, to give th'
States the right TO pass laws dealint
with minimum wages, hours Of labol
and the like.
VIII Commend New Deal.
The platform definitely will COM
mend the Roosevelt New Deal and th'
administration. That seems entirely
assured, although it is likely that som:
| Of the Democratic members of thc
/ Resolutions Committee will be op'
ponents OF much Of the New Deal leg
lslation; for example, Senator Walsh
of Massachusetts, and Senator Glas'
of Virginia. The convention, the plat
form and everything else seems TO b.
entirely within the control Of Presiden
Roosevelt and his New Deal supporters
The currency plank Of the Demo
cratic platform will certainly not fol
low the currency plank of the Repub
licans. 1t will not declare against fur
ther devaluation Of the dollar, nor at
tempt to take away the authority o.
the President further TO devalue th'
dollar. Nor will it suggest the need o
a return to the gold standard even
tually. as Landon did in his telegram
to the Republican National Conven
tion.
The Democrats appear to be all Sc
TO repeal the century-old two-third
rule for nominating candidates fo
President and Vice President. Their
may be a fight against the proposal q
adopt in its place a ma jority rule, sucf
as maintains in the Republican ma
tional convention, but it is likely u
be perfunctory.
| Philadelphia, for years stronghold