Evening star., 1939-08-10
Turncoat Democrats
And Republicans
Hit by Pepper
Have Sent Spies to
Confuse Convention,
Florida Senator Says
BY the Associated Press.

BY the Associated Press.
PITTSBURGH, Aug. Ex-senator
Claude Pepper Democrat, of Flor
ida asserted today the Republicans
and turncoat Democrats have de-
liberately sent their spies to agitate
here with a view to disrupting and
confusing the convention of the
Young Democratic Clubs of America.
Senator Pepper, keynote speaker
at the convention starting tonight,
talked to reporters after former
Representative John J. O'Connor of
New York. defeated in 1898 in the
New Deal purge" drive, had
charged the Roosevelt administra-
ton with attempting to control the
convention here.
The Florida Senator said the coali-
ton opposition that worked havoc
for the Roosevelt program in Con-
gress was trying to do the same thing
here.
They are fear mongers,' he said
They have produced first one red
herring, then another, but the Young
Democrats understand their purpose
and all they will be is sounding brass
and tinkling cymbal.''
A charge by Mr.. O'Connor that
Senator Guffey, Democrat of Penn
sylvania was among those trying to
run the convention brought reply
from Senator Guffey. He said the
New Yorker was a 'sorehead' and
never was Democrat, as proved by
his action as chairman of the House
Rules Committee in blocking New
Deal legislation
The three-day meeting gets under
way tonight. Meanwhile. election
eering for the presidency of the Or
ganization proceeded apace amid
charges and denials of legal vote
buying
Mr., O'Connor, who said he was
here representing a newly organized
group known as the Young Democ-
racy of New York, asserted the New
Deal, through Thomas G.. Corcoran,
Roosevelt legal aide, was throwing
its support to Homer Mat Adams of
Illinois, leading candidate for presi-
dent of the Young Democratic Clubs.
The New Yorker said Harold Mos
kovit, New York director of the
National Emergency Council and
head of the Affiliated Young Demo-
Gratis of the State, was Mr.. Cor
coran's representative here to boost
Adams
A third New York group. the one
holding charter in the regular ma
tional organization and headed by
Paul A. Rouls, Monticello, said they
had not committed themselves on
the presidency. New York, with SIS.
has the largest vote in the conven-
ton, with Illinois next with So
Not Allowed to Speak.
Mr. OConnor will not be allowed
to speak before the convention, ac-
cording to Pitt Tyson Maner. incum-
bent president. He said the New
Yorker was not delegate and would
be as welcome as Herbert Hoover" :"
Talking with reporters, Mr.. O'Con-
nor attacked Senator Guffey, Dem
ocrat, of Pennsylvania, who is here
for the convention, saying Senator
Guffey was running true to form"
in advocating a third term for Mr.
Roosevelt.
"Guffey is as good Democrat as
Penrose, Mellon and Ware ever
We're" he said, because he always
did business with them"
Mr.. O'Connor said he hoped the
boys here will not violate the Hatch
law"
It's my observation that they
have a great number of Federal en-
ployeS here who are trying to run
the show, indorse the New Deal and
approve President Roosevelt for a
third term"
Mr.. Maner said the constitution of
the organization prevented such an
Endorsement. He added no Federal
employees would sit as delegates.
Comittees to Meet.
Several committee meetings were
scheduled during the day, includ-
ing the important resolutions group.
out of which may come proposals
touching on the New Deal and
in opposition to the Hatch Act re-
stricting political activity of Federal
jobholders in the policy-mak-
ing class.
Charles Nicholson, veteran pub
licity chief of the Democratic Ma
tional Committee, and Oliver A,
Quayle, jr.. committee treasurer,
were here as observers of the meet
ing. at which 10000 members were
expected
The four-way race for the presi-
dency of the Nations organized
Young Democrats, about 100000
strong, picked up momentum in the
wake of a charge by Harry Shank
of Ohio. one of the candidates, that
$4,000 had been spent, legally, to
line up the New York and Illinois
delegations for Mr. Adams. Adams
lieutenants denied the charge.
Mr.. Shank asserted that because
of the organizations rule allotting
one vote in the convention for each
500 paid-up membership, or 10
cents for each 1000 members, $40 900
had been spent to give New York
and Illinois los votes. or more than
one-fourth of the total convention
vote of 401.
He said New York, with S. votes,
and Illinois with SO, were supporting
Mr.. Adams, and other candidates
from States with far fewer votes, be-
cause of lower dues collections, were
hindered unfairly. A move was
afoot to try to change the rule of
allotting votes.
Charge Is Termed Bunk"
Mr.. Adams termed the Shank
charge bunk" He and his cam
paign manager, Sam Keys, also de-