And this is Gary eichten in St. Paul The Independent Republican party convention continues this evening in st. Paul with a main order of business this evening being the election of 18 at-large delegates to the National GOP convention to be held in Kansas City in August earlier today and during the convention Ronald Reagan and first lady Betty Ford both the spoke to the independent Republican party convention, and there was a straw ballot election, which President Ford one with the percentage of 57% of the bullet during his speech today to the convention Ronald Reagan reviewed some rather familiar campaign themes calling for the removal of all restrictions on agricultural sales to foreign Nations attacking President Ford's economic policies saying that those policies saying that it was not true rather that America is going through an economic recovery begin charging that the economy is being stimulated by borrowing and printing more money giving out according to Regan the illusion of prosperity in an election year.Message board for his partner for her part rather did not specifically addressed the major campaign issues, but spent most of her time instead praising her husband and she called a breath of fresh air. She praised Mr. Ford for vetoing 13 billion dollars and spending bills and said he has brought calm leadership and a cool approach to delicate Foreign Relations matters facing this country by Potter and Dick daily are standing by with the coverage from the convention and Bob. What is the order of business this evening? I'll Gary the 59 people who are seeking positions is National delegates have just a few moments to go finish delivering your little presentations their explanations of what they stand for and why they think they should be elected National delegate during this about five. In fact exactly five people with Drew showing their support either to the official Reagan slate or the official Ford slate.And so there will be a few less people for them to choose from 54. All together will be on the on the ballots which are now being distributed in which the delegates will now be feeling in this is going to be certainly a time-consuming process Dick Dale. He's been down on the floor and how does it look like it might go? Well the chart for the last day or so as you know, Bob has been that the President Ford President Ford supporters were determined to sleep all day 18 of these delegates at fact the rules so that that would be possible. And in fact, that's what was going to happen and it's been a lot of talk about very disciplined Ford forces pulling this kind of thing. I thought I heard a few minutes ago. I from an 8th District delegate on the floor thatHe and many like him we're going to split their ballot. They like to some of the potential delegate Sun both the real Reagan and affords light and if that kind of thing that happens to any great degree at all, of course, it will really muddy up the waters. It's going to prolong this process and it would perhaps indicate that the former Governor Reagan will get some delegates John really mean time. I interviewed the state Republican party chairman Chuck Slocum and I asked a similar questions and let's hear that right now it shed some light on the whole situation.German Slocum I was speaking to one of the what I believe is 3 uncommitted delegates remaining in the state already selected. He said he liked some of the names on both sides of the official Reagan and four slates and he's going to vote accordingly and he seemed to think a lot of the other people on Ford and Reagan people might do the same thing as it's going to slow things up complicate things procedure late tonight, but it could well, I think that a lot of independent thinking people there that are going to vote for delegates without regard to specific Ford Reagan's lights, even though they themselves may have personal choices. I would suspect that about 10 of those delegates are on this first ballot would have a majority and then the other eight perhaps would come in the second ballot, but there's no question about it. For example, I've been publicly neutral and I know the number of people on President Ford's committee and I happen to be on present for it's late as well as Citizens Reagan team that that will support me estate trimmer. That's the case with a number ofAnd particularly I should get into the party leaders that are less visible. There's going to be a lot of crossover a lot of regionalism. We like Johnny because he's from the 7th District in by golly. Even though he's 4494 Regan. I'm going to go look for Johnny because I think that he ought to go. So that's the case I could well be at it depends on the hardcore discipline of the Ford majority. If if if in fact the discipline to the extent that they can vote and 18-member slate to and control a majority. So be it that's the way the system works at the Republican Party chairman Slocum, but using those words again the tight discipline and so on. I think it's important to bear in mind that when you bring this many people together people from Divergent backgrounds, and with the Virgin points of view, very tight discipline is often hard to bring about and so there may in fact be some prizes in store for us as this balloting procedure for the key 18 delegates.Word delegates to the Democratic National Convention are elected in these hours ahead tonight. We'll probably be here Bob. I'm afraid a long long time. I expect we will dick. There are six people who have dropped out of the race making a total of 53 delegates were vying for the position. There are 18 on the Reagan slate 18 and the Ford slate for a total of 36 and that leaves 17 people split between them or uncommitted. There are a couple for stassen. So there is indeed a pretty good likelihood that we will see some splitting on that ballot.Our live coverage of this event is made possible in part with funds provided by the Minneapolis Star and keep you up to date on developments throughout the evening along with reporters John Morley and Dick daily technical director David felons. I'm Bob Potter reporting from the Saint Paul Civic Center. And just a couple of other items to pass along in this evening snooze while we have an opportunity a couple of political. No, it's Iowa Republicans opened a two-day State Convention in Des Moines today where they began putting together a state party platform for the November elections and in Bismarck today North Dakota's Democratic non-partisan League party is holding its convention party chairman Richard Estes as the state's 13 volts at the Democratic National Convention will almost certainly go to Jimmy Carter North Dakota State Convention. Tomorrow will be choosing 16 people to go to that National Convention. Interstate Commerce Commission in Washington today said it's going to allow Freight Carriers to offer reduced rates to transport. Hay to drought-stricken areas of Minnesota that statement in Washington today. Followed by a statement from Bob run so is a Farmers Union director of public relations said that the Farmers Union will begin taking orders immediately and will send buyers to Montana next week next week rather to select. Hey, we shipped into the state of Minnesota runs a note of the Farmers Union has negotiated A reduced rate with the Burlington Northern Railway. Alright, which will allow shipment of a it about $20 per ton. The normal rate is approximately $50 per ton the Interstate Commerce Commission what it will expire July 16th and was the presidential disaster declaration for drought-stricken areas in Minnesota is extended release a report released today in st. Paul that says that one out of every 162 automobiles registered in Minnesota. Minnesota was stolen in 1975 a Bureau of Criminal apprehension said that that was 6% less and a 1974 and was somewhat less than the percentage of cars stolen across the country for the indicated more than 2,300 Motor Vehicles including truck. Buses snowmobiles and motorcycles also reported to be stolen Minnesota last year the total cost for stolen vehicles in the state who said it more than 19 million dollars last year National Weather Service is forecasting acuerda partly cloudy sky with cool temperatures at tonight increasing pot in this around the region tomorrow with a Chance of some light rain in the west and over most of the region by tomorrow night overnight lowest tonight in the upper 40s and lower 50s with highest tomorrow in the middle seventies to the ladies for the Twin Cities are partly cloudy Sky forecast for tonight. Although there is a chance of thunder showers in the Twin Cities increasing clouding us than expected tomorrow with a chance of rain tomorrow overnight lowest tonight in the Twin Cities with 50 to 55 with eyes tomorrow ranging from 80 to 7. That's the news made possible with the financial assistance of the Corporation for Public Broadcasting from the Saint Paul civic center. Of the Republican party convention.