The Waterbury Democrat., 1936-06-24

ne was summoned rom ms seat III the convention hall last night by Presidential Secretary Marvin Mo- Intyre while Keynoter Alben Bark ley of Kentucky, was laundering his challenge to republicanism. They conferred in an alleyway while a drizzle of rain fell on their bare heads. Neither would comment later except to say that they were out flor breath of fresh air."
 Difficult Task
 The resolutions committee meet ing this morning to formally get to work, faced a difficult task in recon cling the 2,500-word tentative plat form approved by the president with the views of various New Deal cap- tains who insisted on 8 more spec ifically liberal tone to offset the Lernke third party appeal to western voters.
 .che controversy, centering on the wages and hours, farm relief, cur- rency and monopoly blanks drew at- tention to conference room argu- meaits after 6 spllrge of oratory and demonstrations on the opening day of the convention. The highlights included:
 HighIights Last Night
 1, Barkley,s keynote address larn- basting republicanism, indirectly criticizing what he termed the re- actionary element of the supreme court, defending and "proclaiming" the Roosevelt New Deal as a success which would return the party to power.
 2. A fighting speach by Pennsyl- vania's Gov. George H. Earle, in which he described the republican party as the wolf in the story Of Little Red Riding Hood, clothed in "grandmother' shawl-the Ameri- can flag; and grandmother's night cap--the constitution" Earle has been mentioned as 1940 democratic presidential timber, although he formerly was 8 republican.
 3. A vigorous speech by National Chairman James A. Farley, open ing the convention. He accepted the republican challenge to base the presidential campaign on the New Deal. Farley, who is expected soon to resign as postmaster general, moved into the background today to remain there until the presiden- tial campaign picks up speed.
 4. Sentiment favoring elimira- ton of the two-thirds rule continu- de to gain among delegates, with the rules committee expected to report favorably to the convention on that issue.
 s. A campaign to persuade Leh- man to seek reelection as governor of New York continued, but he de- nied published reports that he had reconsidered and would run again His vote gathering strength was considered, important to the New Deal in the Empire state, where Is President Roosevelt's home.
 Next Excitement
 Outside of the platform battle, the next billed excitement for the run of the mill delegates will be tonight when Senate Majority Leader Jo- seph T. Robinson of Arkansas will be elected permanent chairman oi the convention and addresses the delegates. The first of today's con- vention sessions, convening at noon will feature movie, stage and radio stars.
 The current of conflict over plat form blanks ran swiftly beneath the surface riot of horn-tooting donkey-riding delegates in ten-gal- lon hats, red pith helmets and sail or hats. It was a stubborn and one of the strangest conflicts in many years.
 Chief interest centered on the &C., tivities of Lehman in behalf Of a sound" plank on minimum wages and maximum hours; piece of So- cial legislation in his state which the supreme court invalidated. He is a New Deal man, close personal friend of the president, and a dem- ocrat who can swing more votes ir his own state than probably any other political figure. He is greatly interested in social legislation.
 Yet his troubles at the convention came in conference with Wagner a New Deal stalwart, a leader in congressional legislation for social betterment, a close admirer of the president.
 Repeated Delays
 So far there have been repeated delays in getting preliminary dis cussions out of the way. Wagner was slow in arriving because of last-min- ute conferences in Washington and he has been even slower in circulat- Ing the presidents ideas among delegates at the convention.
 One reason advanced for the de- lay was that eleventh hour re- visions were being made and that the tentative draft was extremely vague on important blanks.
 One platform draft. said to bear the stamp nt the administration and