9,000 Words

"We renew our pledge to the principles and traditions of our party and dedicate it anew to the service of the nation."

Thus began the Republican platform of 1932 adopted last week at the Chicago convention. It contained about 9,000 words and was called the most conservative, if not illiberal, party declaration in a generation. Excerpts:

Depression: "The supremely important problem is to break [its] back. The patience and courage of our people have been severely tested."

Unemployment Relief: "... [a] problem of State and local responsibility. The party is opposed to the Federal Government entering directly into the field of private charity."

Public Economy: ". . . Prompt and drastic reduction of public expenditure. . . . The party will continue to uphold the gold standard. Relief by currency inflation is unsound in principle and dishonest in results. An ailing body cannot be cured by quack remedies."

Banks: ". . . Better protection of the depositing public."

Silver: ". . . An international conference [on] monetary questions."

Agriculture: "The Farm Board has many achievements to its credit. . . . The prices received by the American farmer, cruelly low though they are, are higher than the prices received by the farmers of any competing nation. . . . We will support any plan which will help to balance production against demand and thereby raise agricultural prices, provided it is economically sound and administratively workable."

Tariff: ". . . Extension of the general principle of protection to the products of our farms, forests, mines and oil wells."

Veterans: ". . . A difficult task. A careful study should be made with a view to elimination of inequalities and injustices and effecting all possible economies."

Foreign Affairs: ". . . Peace with all."

World Court: "America should join."

Reduction of Armament: "We do not propose to reduce our Navy defenses below that of any other nation."

Wages: ". . . High."

Work: ". . . Shorter day . . . shorter week."

Labor: "Collective bargaining is approved."

Negro: ". . . The friend."

Children: ". . . have had the most solicitous thought of our President."

Government Reorganization: "We favor."

Democrats: "The vagaries of the Democratic House offer characteristic and appalling proof of the existing incapacity of that party for leadership in a national crisis. Individualism running amuck has displaced party discipline. . . . Goaded to desperation by their confessed failure, the party leaders have resorted to "pork barrel" legislation. . . ."

Party Insurgents: ". . . Menace to self-government . . . the confused voices of a heterogeneous group of unrelated local prejudices. . . ."

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