Imperial Valley Press

Democrats Begin Platform Study For Chicago Meet

CHICAGO, July 15. (UP)-Members of the subcommittee of the resolutions committee of the Democratic national convention are here to begin work on the platform to be presented at the party's national conclave which opens at the Chicago stadium next Wednesday.

Reports from Washington said that a 1500-word proposed draft of the party's platform had been prepared with administration approval and forwarded here for study by the subcommittee.

Although a 1500-word platform would be short in comparison to the 4600-word statement of policy adopted by the Republicans here last month, a movement was reported underway to pare an additional 500 words from the document.

Eleven women are included in the 23-member subcommittee named last week by Robert E. Hannegan, chairman of the Democratic national committee. The group, which also includes 11 members of Congress, is headed by Rep. John W. MacCormack, House majority leader.

Public hearings before the subcommittee are scheduled to start Monday at the Stevens hotel, two days before the convention meets, but it was indicated that some groups may be heard prior to that time.

The Democrats completed most of the arrangements for their convention yesterday with the appointment of Senator Abe Murdock of Utah, head of the credentials committee; Robert W. Kenny, attorney general for California, chairman of the rules committee, and Gov. Harold McGrath of Rhode Island, head of the committee on permanent organization.

Gov. Robert Kerr of Oklahoma, temporary chairman and keynoter, has arrived in Chicago and said his speech before the convention Wednesday night was all prepared.

He indicated it would be brief.