Renominating Mr. Roosevelt The renomination of Mr. Roosevelt by the
Democratic Convention at Philadelphia was a foregone conclusion from the first. Governor Al Smith and four other promi- nent dissidents made an appeal to the delegates to repudiate him, but this intervention mattered not at all. The President dominates his party to an unexampled extent. He has written its platform, with the assistance only of a few intimate advisers, thus marking a notable difference between his position and that of his Republican opponent. The Democrats, however, arc disturbed by the appearance of a new Left movement headed by Mr. William Lemke of North Dakota, and called the Union Party. It is inspired by Father Coughlin, is supported by Huey Long's following and Dr. Townsend's pension host, and has a platform of bank control and downright inflation. This gives Mr. Roosevelt conspicuously the centre position, while compelling him to give a leftward turn to the revised New Deal proposals. Congress adjourned last week in distressing confusion. A Tax Bill providing for new revenue esti- mated at £160,000,000 was huddled through, but the Housing Bill which, it was hoped, would enable the separate States with large federal grants-in-aid to make up for time lamentably wasted during recent years, was lost.
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