The Washington times., 1916-06-09
"0ETT' q CLOSE TO A0REH-
MENT"

When the Republican and Pro
gressive national conventions yes
terday afternoon at almost the sam,
minute, took the action which au
thorized the chairman Of each bod,
to name conference committee o.
five to confer with like commute,
from the other, they took the long
est and most difficult step towart
reconciliation.
Having got this far. II would b,
an inconceivable blunder that the,
should fail to carry the reconcilia'
ton through To contamination, The
arrangement Of conference commit
tees Is one that preserves the self
respect Of both sides. The Repub'
licans made the tender of terms, In
that they were the first actually to
take the action authorizing the con.
ference, The Progressives met the
advance promptly and with some.
thing like enthusiasm save for the
objections of rather small minority
Anybody at all familiar with the
conditions In both conventions, and
with the difficulties Of managing
such undisciplined bodies as nationa,
conventions, would have understood
from that minute that these con.
ferees had been vested with an i'm.
mense influence, but very little real
power. A false step might shattei
everything; but wise counsels, a dis.
position to lead and not to drive, tc
conciliate and not to insist, woulc
bring the results undoubtedly desired
by the large majority in both con
ventions.
At the outset, a comparison Of
the platforms Of the two partie.
shows that there is little for them II
bubble about. Both are for proper
protection, for attention to the press
ing needs of foreign trade expansion
for liberal attitudes on questions a
human welfare. Both are for tn,
most vigorous and vital expression
of the national sentiment for Amer
lea and Americanism, and for sucl
adequate preparedness as will insur,
the national safety. Both demand {
foreign policy, both in Mexico ant
toward the European complications
that will preserve the interests ant
the influence Of this, the creates
neutral on earth. Whatever differ
ences there are as to minor matters
it must be realized that these ar,
,immaterial in comparison to tn,
overshadowing issues that interna
tional matters have forced upon tn,
attention of the world, and in which
America must play a great part
Whether we shall play that par
creditably and to our own advantag,
is the real issue, and 1t cannot b,
made anything less than the para
mount issue in this years campaign
On this the Progressives and Repub
licans are at one; everything els,
should and probably will be sweep
into the class Of minor considera
tions.
The first session Of the peacemak
ers did not produce an agreement
Probably it would have been bad fol
the peace cause If it had done SO, TO-
too much celebrity and lubricity II
bringing out a harmony program
might have impressed the conven
tions, especially the Progressives
that the thing was suspiciously easy
In fact, there is nothing suspicious
and there will be nothing easy abou
it. The Republicans have a dozer
or more candidates and can't tel
whom they will nominate. The Pro
gressives have only one candidate
and are uncertain whether any othe
man could secure the Endorsement O.
their convention. It is a situation
that demands the most careful man
agement; but it is also one in which
all the factors favor and point t,
the general wish for agreement.