Evening star., 1939-12-17
Western Republicans
Hit Trade Pacts and
Conduct Of n. R, B,
Call for States to Send
Uninstrueted Delegates
To Party Convention
~ the Associated Press.

~ the Associated Press.
SALT LAKE CITY, Dec. 16.-
The Western Regional Republican
Conference adopted resolutions to-
day condemning the administra-
tion's reciprocal trade agreements
and the administration of the Ma
tional Labor Relations Board and
called for States of this area to
send uninstructed delegates to the
1940 national party convention.
The resolutions were adopted at
the closing general session of the
two-day meeting of party leaders
and workers from Washington,
California, Montana, Nevada, Colo
RADIO. Idaho, Wyoming and Utah.
A committee report advising
against formation "at this time" of
q, permanent Western regional Re-
publican organization was adopted
Future conferences, with bloc ac-
ton possible, are slated, however
This unexpected opposition arose
otter groups from several States
pointed out that they could not
take definite action without author
ization from their respective State
committees.
: A permanent organization had
been one of the principal items in
the conference program. Several
early-arriving leaders had predicted
quick approval of the bloc proposal.
New Deal "Defeatism" Hit.
/. Other resolutions assailed "the
defeatist policy of the New Deal"
Federal control of oil under the pro-
posed Cole bill, enlargement of ma
tional parks without approval of
State Legislatures and the asserted
introduction of politics into relief
problems.
a The conference also adopted res
olutions recommending the reten-
tion of American markets for agri-
culture and industry, encourage
ment of free enterprise and individ-
bal initiative, withdrawal of Gov
rnment competition with business,
full recognition of gold and silver
as standards of value and as basis
of currency issues, maintenance of
sound currency and continuation of
the Dies Committee Investigating
I'm american Activities.
.c Miller Freeman of Seattle. Wash
1ington national committeeman, de-
clared the resolutions should not
be considered as binding expressions
Of policy of any Western State Re-
publican organization: rather that
they were merely an expression
Of this conference" for the guidance
OF party leaders in the West.
Want Hands United.
!. Regarding the uninstructed dele
cation movement, conference speak
ers earlier had taken the view that
Western States should be free to
deal with problems as they arise
in the national convention and not
be bound previously by commit
ments to any particular candidate
for the presidential nomination.
The resolution on reciprocal trade
agreements declared that the 1884
act Of Congress resulted in an un-
warranted Capitalization of power
in the President" and had permitted
flood of imports from foreign ma
tions that is causing almost every
industry of the West to suffer.
1t urged that the present Recip-
rocal Trade Act not be renewed
when 1t expires next June IL and
that the treaties that are adversely
affecting our farmers. laborers and
industry be terminated at the earli-
est possible moment"
. An attempt to strike from the
resolution on agriculture a sentence
.criticizing the administration farm
parity payment and soil conserva-
tion programs finally was successful
after preliminary defeat.
= = Reconsiders Action.
= The conference first voted against
the elimination, proposed by some
Utah delegates, but later recon-
sidered and agreed to the omission.
9 The sentence read:
: THE so-called parity payments
and soil conservation payments, the
restriction of production and de-
struction of crops does not provide
y sound, permanent solution for
Farmers
- Opponents contended that if the
aRepublicans had no agricultural
program to offer the conference
would jeopardize party chances in
1910 by attacking the Democratic
farm setup.
; Don B. Cotton, former Utah Con-
gresham and chairman of the
Resolutions Committee, defended
the resolution and declared it stated
only that the present farm policy
docs not provide sound, perma-
mont co1,,t;oo