The Birmingham age-herald., 1916-06-06
BEGINNING ID GIVE CONSIDERATION ID |. PLATFORMOF COP. Lodge, BOrah and Suther- land Have Many Sug-
 gestions in Mind
BULL MOOSE IDEAS
 TOBE INCORPORATED
Out-and- Out Declaration of National ism FavOred-Tariff Plank Will Be Reiteration of Views and In-
 dictment of Present Law

tAOil iIoCiL, COilSlucTdllOH was gwen IOudy to outstanding features. The advance preparation that characterized other con- ventions has been lacking, but Senators Lodge, Borah, Sutherland and many others in the Senate and House have had suggestions under consideration for many weeks. These probably will form the basis for discussion in the commit tee on resolutions when it gets to work, with the convention as the final judge
 Every effort will be made in the plat form, if the suggestions are followed, to incorporate some progressive party ideas A recall plank probably will not be ap- proved by leaders, but strong fight will be made for an indorsement of woman suffrage.
 In what the three senators have done the first thought has been to give the greatest prominence to Americanism. Senator Sutherland has gone so far as to suggest that this word should be used as key to the whole superstructure all other declarations being built around a ringing pronouncement in favor of Ameri- can nationalism. His belief is that a sat- lsfactory platform could be constructed upon that principle and that even the tariff plank could be made to fit into a declaration for Americanism only.
 While not committing themselves en- tlrely to this plan of procedure, other platform builders support an out and out declaration for nationalism. Some of them are inclined to the belief that his plan might result in too great re- striction and thus exclude many neces- sary matters
 NEED NOT BE BRIEF
 Some also are getting away from the thought that the platform should be exceptionally brief. We don't want to be uselessly prolix," said Senator Borah. soon after his arrival today, but we cannot and must not overlook the fact that the republican party is out of power, and that being the case We owe it to the country to present compre- appeal for support. If we had a re- publican President his record might be sufficient platform in itself. Not being thus situated we are called upon to say what we propose to do and, in- cidentally. to point out some of the mistakes of the opponents. We should not deny ourselves this opportunity in our desire to be epigrammatic.
 q think that Americanism will be the dominant feature of the platform" The plank on Americanism should include the declarations of the party regarding the European war and our relation to it; the Mexican problem and the ex- pression of the obligations of an Ameri- can citizen"
 As the draft stands, it is at once g criticism of the democratic manage ment of foreign affairs as vascillating and unsatisfactory, and pronounce ment in favor of the protection of the lives and property of American citizens at home and abroad.
 The democratic direction of affairs in connection with Mexico will be attacked with special severity as toally inade- quate to the demands of the situation, but no declaration for actual interven- tion in Mexico is contemplated now. An army and navy adequate to protection of American interests will be advocated as the best means of preserving peace and protecting the national honor.
 THE TARIFF PLANK
 The tariff plank will include not only the usual republican pronouncement in support of the principle of protection, but in addition there will be an asser- ton of the inadequacy of the present tariff law to meet revenue demands It will be asserted that but for the stimu- Jus of the war, business in the United States would have suffered many hard ship as result of the Underwood Sim mons law. while at the same time the treasury would have been continuously empty Promise will be made of an im- mediate revision that will be to the advantage of both the national treasury and of private business. A tariff com mission will be demanded in the interest of the stability and equality of the tar iff
 Much attention is to be given to fea- lures of the platform which. it is be- lieved, will appeal to the progressive ele- ment and to the former members of the party who supported the candidacy of Colonel Roosevelt four years ago. To this end resolutions have been prepared covering most of the distinctive points of the progressive platform of four years ago. These do not include an idorsement of the recall, but they do embrace "the subject of woman suffrage. It is the be- lief of the framers of these provisions that the declaration along progressive lines should be so comprehensive and clear as to leave no ground for opposi- tion on this score. The advocates of the suffrage provision expect fight. but say they have an equal chance to win.
 Senator Lodge, 1t Is conceded, will be chairman of the resolutions committee. He has filled this position in previous and it is believed his ex- perience as well as his knowledge of leg islation and of foreign and domestic af- fairs will greatly facilitate it's work. He Is credited with the authorship of the proposed declarations concerning foreign affairs, but he refused today to discuss the platform in any of it's phases.
 
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