The Waterbury Democrat., 1936-06-22


 who. put up $250, 900 to brin it back again.
 The nomination of Franklin D. Roosevelt will come along after this Is over, and 1t is purely inci- dental. 2
 Of these ObleCtlveS, Che first two = the twO-thirds rule and the platform-will be the hard. est
 Thanks to Eddie Dowling's array of radio and theatrical entertainment, plus Q carefully arranged schedule of procrastina- ton, it will be 9airlys easy to stall the convention along for i've days. Magic Platform
 To ell outward appearances, the platform will be equally easy. It will be pulled from the magic sleeve of Senator Bob Wagner and adopted without debate.
 But this Is only because long hours-in fact, several weeks of preparation have already gone into the platform. Unlike the Cleveland convention, where the platform was pulled back and forth between Landon and old guard forces, the last word in the democratic platform dee pends on one n--ROOsevelt.
 Nevertheless, back in Washing. ton, where the platform really was written, there was plenty of be- hind-the-scenes argument among the presidents advisers. And one of the most important factors was identical to the one that bothered Cleveland -- the desire to please the Lion of Idaho, William D. Borah, and, if possible, induce him to "take walk"
 Three Arguments
 Chief controversy centered around these three issues: (1) Monopoly; (2) Currency; (S) on amendment to the Constitution legalizing minimum wage and IniniInun- -hour laws.
 The last, loaded to the hilt with political dynamite, has caus- ed sharp inner circle debate. One group of democratic congressional leaders has flatly opposed any constitutional amendment. Meet- ing secretly in the senate ofiicc building last week, they argued that an amendment would only furnish the republicans with anti. New Deal ammunition.
 On the other hand, Senator Wagner, principal author of the platform, favors Q strong stand for labor legislation. Other advis- CTS point out also that Landon's 'if necessary" pronouncemen In favor of Q constitutional aYnend- ment forces Roosevelt to take Q definite position.
 IT NOW LOOKS AS IF THIS WOULD BE TAKEN.
 Currency Platform
 On the question of currency, the democrats are getting right down to brass tacks with Senator Borah. Knowing how unified he was at the way Landon put over his "gold dollar" telegram after the platform was adopted ct Cleveland, Roosevelt einissaries actually have shown Borah @ copy of the tentative currency plank.
 This is what they showed him:
 "Gold serves as Q convenient medium for settling temporary balances between nations, but to return to the old free gold standard iS to invite monetary chaos and national disaster.
 we pledge continuance of sound money, with steady pur- chasing power of the dollar which will do justice not only as between present debtor and creditor, but between all who make commitments for the future in terms of the dollar"
 Borah told his callers that if the democratic platform contain- ed such Q plank he would give 1t his public endorsement. This plank was taken by the president for study over the weekend. Monopoly
 On monopoly, the New Deal master minds plan to 90 all the way with Borah. In fact they are even considering lifting verbatim the plank which the senator tried to have incorporated in the CleVe. land platform. The republican piank-writers eliminated the sec- ond paragraph--dynamite loaded from their monopoly section. The New Dealers now propose use ing 1t. Here Is how 1t reads:
 We favor Q declaration by Iaw of tho conditions upon which corporations shall bO per- mitted to engage In interstate trade, including among other things, the prevention of hold. ing companies beyond the sec end degree, of interlocEing directorates, of stock watering. Og discrimination in price, 0f price fixing, and of all naon0po- llstlc practices which may be defined by law"
 Borah told the democratic eInissaries that he wanted Q red- hot anti-rnonopiy platform. And he will get it Roosevelt has made Ak aNAMs kSaak Rn %nAaa 4sanA aa