Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1916-06-05
''STOP MURDER
in MEXICO" MAY
BE G. 0. P. SLOGAN
Wilson's Policy Will Be the
Real Issue, Says Sen
ator Fall
PROTECTION FOR LIVES"
Some Platform Carpenters Urge
Cutting to "Irreducible Mini
mum" in Words
By f. R. sARTwELL

CHICAGO, June 5.-"Stop murder in
Mexico loomed up today as the possible
big slogan for the Republican fight for the
| presidency next fall The Mexicon plank
of the Republican National platform be.
| came the centre of the fight over party
| declaration of faith, and Senator Albert b.
| Fall, of New Mexico, took charge OF the
| campaign for "virile, vigorous Republi-
man Mexican policy"
Senator Fall, who for months has been
the leader Of the opposition to President
Wilson's course In Mexico, came to chicago
with half dozen tentative drafts OF
Mexican plank Conferences OF prospec-
tive members of the Convention Resolutions
Committee with Senator Fall today re.
viewed these declarations, and the Senator
declared later that he was confident that
the Mexican declaration would furnish the
real issue for the fall campaign. He placed
at the disposal of the Resolution Committee
all of his information regarding the wilson
Mexican policy gained through personal
investigation on the border and through
the activities of his own secret service
in Mexico.
The Administrators policy in Mexico
cannot be defended" said Senator Fall to-
day. Both the Republicans and Democrats
probably will agree to large extent on
the issues involving the European war,
preparedness and other questions OF the
day Conditions in the country have just
about eliminated the tariff as possible
Issue. In this situation II Is apparent to
me that the time has come for the Re
publican party to make Its fight on the
issue of protecting the lives and property OF
Americans in Mexico, where the Wilson
Administration has abandoned our citizens
to death and their property to destruction"
FEW PLANKs URGED.
A serious campaign to revolutionlze
platform declarations gained considerable
momentum today. group of delegates
declared for cutting down the platform to
an "irreducible minimum" in words. They
asserted that the party could best put IT.
self record by concentrating on five or
six planks expressed briefly and conclsely.
They suggested limiting the declaration
to an "Americanism, preparedness, the
tariff. Mexico and peace" with possible |
general plank attacking the Administra- |
ton for it's "unbusinesslike" conduct Of the |
affairs of the Government Members OF the |
Resolutions Committee said, however. that |
the pressure of numerous and various |
planks would prove too strong and declared |
that while the platform would be brief 1t |
would not be radically edited.
Two more or less complete tentative
platforms put in an appearance today.
One was an "Old Guard" document. |
framed and circulated by Guardsman Muir
ray Crane of Massachusetts. The other |
was a Progressive Republican platform
framed by Progressive Republican mem
bers of Congress In Washington ana
Drought 10 CHlCaBO ny otHalOi NShyDh VI
Iowa Senator Borah, of Idaho. was re-
sponsible for a large part of the Washing
ton platform, and it's provisions entered
largely into harmony negotiations between
Old Guard and Progressive leaders today
The platform is to be made the basis of
Grading" IL the Old Guard leaders can con-
vince the Progressives that concessions in
the platform are worth trading for.
The general provisions of the big planks
as now in the process OF formation, would
declare:
THAT the party believes in virile
fostered by the protection of
American rights throughout the world.
That the party is for peace with honor
but not for peace at any price
THAT the party has renewed faith in
the protective tariff system, favors nom
partisan tariff commission and deplores the
effects of the Underwood tariff law.
THAT the country should prepare for pos
sible war by building the navy back into
rank among world Powers. and by
the Army War College plans for
the army"
The preparedness plank will probably ad-
vocate universal military training,
The plank critielsing the Administrations
conduct of the business of the Government
will be directed principally at the admins
tration of the Postofflce Department and
at the pork barrel" appropriations OF the
Congress,