Evening star., 1940-07-14
Platform
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Platform
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next morning." Mr.. Maverick said
and the crowded hearing room broke
into applause.
IF the Democrats don't take the
lead in this situation they won't
win" the Texan concluded.
IF they take it and lose. let the
demagogues and the Fascists behind
Wendell Willkie have what's left"
Power Issue Stressed.
Not alone from Mr.. Maverick did
the committee hear unfriendly
words about Mr. Willkie.
Monroe Sweetland, curly-haired
and very earnest young spokesman
OF the Oregon Commonwealth Fede-
ration, warned that the Republican
nominee heads fifth column effort
by which the utility interests hope
ito buy their way into the White
House"
They've rigged up this Trojan
elephant for the charge" he re-
marked in ampliflcation, during an
appeal to the platform makers to
include a strong plank on behalf of
public power development and dis
tribution.
1--WE should make public power the
chief issue OF the campaign" he
urged, especially because the Re-
publicans don't want it to be-
Speaking qualified approval of his
fellow Oregonian, Senator McNary,
Republican vice presidential nomi-
nee, the witness described him as
"personif1ed apology for the power
trust candidacy of Mr.. Willkie."
Mrs. Miller a Politician.
There were others on the list who
also contributed spark to the days
proceedings, among them Mrs.
Emma Guf1ey Miller, sister of
Pennsylvania Democratic Senator.
Pertly. Mrs. Miller served notice
on her listeners that "it is politicians
like myself who put you statesmen in
ONCE" Effectively, then, she ar
gued for inclusion in the platform
of an Endorsement Of the equal
rights for women amendment.
Later, however. the League Of
Women Voters presented a voice
against the amendment, with a re-
minder that human nature cannot
be changed by amending the Con-
stitution."
In varying degrees, assurances of
non-intervention and of limited pre-
paredness effort were asked by Carl
Lands Of the Fellowship of Recon-
ciliation. by the Rev. Russell Whar-
ton Lambert Of the Keep America
Out Of War Congress, by Joseph
Cadden of the American Youth
Congress and by Charles F. Boss
Of the Commission on World Peace
Of the Methodist Church.
An added starter among these was
John Prock, a little man with a
Unchecked shirt, red tie and
tweedy suit, whose only label on
the list of committee witnesses was
that he favored peace" To get it.
he proposed we annex Canada"
and "muzzle all domestic war
mongers."
Consenting to be interrupted only
for the purpose of drinking two
glasses of Ice water, he pleaded with
the committee members to "let me
finish while I'm in the mood"
Throughout the more serious tes-
timony Of those wary Of total de-
fense," the administration banner
was carried principally by Secre-
tary Of Agriculture Wallace and
Senator Pepper of Florida, with
occasional aid from Representative
Carpenter of Kansas and Roy v.
Harris, speaker of the Georgia
House of Representatives.
Despite their relative weight, poll
tics and defense did not completely
monopolize the days testimony. In
cluded were the following:
Chairman Randolph of the House
District Committee urged q clear
cut declaration In support of ma
tional representation and suffrage
for the District. After his appear
ance, Chairman Wagner of the
Platform Committee asked the West
Virginian to contact committee
members individually and to SUBJ
NIT a draft of proposed plank.
Merit System Extension Urged.
Luther G. Steward of the National
Federation of Federal Employees
urged support for extension Of the
merit system in Government en-
ployment and for passage of the
Ramspeck bill now pending in the
Senate.
Henry johnson Of the National
Negro Congress asked Endorsement
of the Federal anti-lynching bill
with provision for cloture in Senate
consideration Of the measure If nec-
essary. Mr.. johnson likewise urged
a plank supporting a Federal anti
poll tax bill.
Several spokesmen for agriculture
appeared to pay tribute to the New
Deal-Democratic record on behalf
Of the farmer, and to ask that its
improvement be attempted by one
or more platform planks next week.
Neville Miller, president of the
National Association of Broadcast
ers, appeared to ask plank sup
porting legislation to extend broad
cast licenses to five years, to assure
court hearings before revocation or
denial Of licenses and to prohibit
Government censorship Of program
content