Throughout the rest of the platform the Governor's influence could be seen In the emphasis on state and local responsibility as opposed centralization in a bureaucracy in Washington, Local responsibility was for example the foundation of the Republican party's relief plank, "To avoid partisanship, confusion, waste and incompetence," the Republican parly pledged "the return of responsibility for relief administration to non-political local agencies familar with community problems." The old-fashioned American spirit of ragged individualism, from which Gover-or London gets his inspiration, was and is the antithesis of New Deal centralization. It is also opposed to private centralization, or monopoly, and Governor London had no dificul= In accepting the anti-monopoly plank written by Senator Borah, "Free enterprise" was threatened equally by private monopoly avid governmental regimentation. The tone was private, the other public, socialism.
If Senator Borah was satisfied with the monopoly plank of the platform he was barely satisfied with the currency plank and definitely hostile to JGovernor, London's interpretation that plank. The platform spoke of a "sound and stable currency," the first requisite of which was a' balanced budget. But so had the Democratic platform of 1932 and the London forces maintained that such a platform pledge would give the electorate the impression that Republicans would bbe as ready as the Democrats to take shelter in the vagueness of the phrase "sound currency" and adopt whatever policy was politically most expedient. Borah and the old politicians decided that any mention of the word gold might needlessly antagonize bi-metal-Usts and inflationists "so the—wor was left out. London's telegram put it back in again.
The second requisite, next to a Dalanced budget, he said "is a cur Feney expressed in terms of gold and Jconvertible into gold," though he. recognized that this condition. could not be brought about immediately without harming the domestic economy of the country. (Through teleraphist's amusing error the word domestic was received at the Convention Halt and read to the delegates Jas "democratic economy" which caused confusion and surprise).
The third point mentioned in Governor London's telegram was the civil service. He gave a more definite and precise pledge on this matter than any candidate has before him. "Every position in the administrative service below the rank of assistant secretary" including the entire postofice department should bbe filled by competitive examination, he maintained. "He will thus be able attack the way in which admin: istrative posts have been Ailled by arty henchmen under the New Des! with a clear conscience, There are other points in the platform which will have to be interpreted by the candidate, more particularly those dealing with the tariff. The platform promises to. "adjust tariffs with a view to promoting international trade" and at the same time to "defend the American farmer and the American wage-earner from the destructive competition emanate ing from the subsidies of foreign governments and the imports. from Tow wage and depreciated currency countries." This stand against subsidized exports has not prevented a plank being placed in the platform dealing with the farm. problem, which promises benefit. payments to farmers who grow exportable crops. The farm plank also promises "bargaining for foreign markets. solectively," meaning presumably that the Republican party favours "bl-lateral treaties without any most favoured nation clause. A pledge to "use every effort to collect the war-debts" cial or tariff sections of the platform, but in a series of addenda tacked on at the end, Not a hint is given that the war debts should be revised er made to depend on an interna~ Hlonal trade revival In foreign policy the platform goes out of its way to rebuff the internationalists. A definite pledge is given not to join the League. of Nations or the World Court. This was done to placate Senator Borah and the isolationist, The London forees, however, added to the strict isolationist plank a pledge to promote peace by. international arbitration "through the establishment of the free independent tribunals."
Governor London and his new guard" have already encouraged the downcast Republicans and scared the confident Democrats.
The publican candidate something typically America satisfies the sentimental craving for the lost frontier, for the American of covered wagon days. He may not be a brilliant speaker or an intellect tual giant, but then that makes him all the more like the rest of the Population; he satisfies the desire for "normalcy." "He may not be smart, but many people are tired of smart ness. They are tired of continual exdiement at Washington: they want: a rest, to be let alone. Governor London's defeat is by no means a certainty. He may be in the White House next year, so his campaign Is worth following.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.