New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1916-05-26
Main Theme of Platform
May Even Quote His De
trOit UtteranCeS.
REAL PREPAREDNESS
WILL LEAD ISSUES
Lodge and Borah Working on
Tentative Drafts-Will De-
mand Strong Navy.

Washington. May 25. -Thoroughgoing
Americanism. as expounded by Theo-
dore Roosevelt. so explicit that the
Democrats cannot meet the issue with
out repudiating their record and
President Wilson's. and so clear that
there can be no room for hyphenism.
sectionslism or any other division, VIII
be the keynote of the Republican plat
form. Under it will be grouped all
other issues preparedness. foreign
policy, the tariff, social justice and
industrial organization.
This has been decided or by the
party leaders here. They do not ex-
pect 20 dictate the platform. nor to
win, adoption Of platform along these
lines without fight; but they be-
lieve that they can convince the strong
men of the convention that this is no
time for "pussyfooting. and that they
will gain the support necessary.
Lodge May Be Chairman.
Among party leaders here the con-
viction is growing that Senator Lodge
will probably be chairman Of the reso-
lutions committee and that Senator
Borah will be vice-chairman. They
have been working at tentative drafts
of the platform, and the majority has
reached an agreement on The points
mentioned. There is fairly strong
body of "pussyfoOters chiefly
with Germans in their districts-who
still hope, and may fight, to get
platform that will mean whatever is
most acceptable in their C0rgressloal
districts
In line with the general policy OF
avoiding anything which may lead to
fight and split in the convention, the
leaders have done their work quietly,
and are now hoping that the question
can be settled in committee. They are
ready 10 fight on the floor II necessary,
and they have been busily lining up
votes for the policies they favor. At
present they feel sure of both coasts
and Of the mountain states. They are
a little doubtful of the South ana eX-
pect opposition from the Middle West,
where hyphenates and pacihsts abound.
Americanism will be defined, it is un-
derstood. along the lines laid out by
Colonel Roosevelt in his Detroit speech
perhaps in almost the same words. II
will otter no place for divided ale
glance, but will not, either attack any
peoples or persons except those who
have directly shown disloyalty.
Next in importance viii come pre-
paredness, military, industrial and SO
cial. On the military side there VIII
be strong advocacy Of real army.
promptly built up, and an attack on the
sham bill which has been adopted by
the Democratic majority in Congress.
Some of the leaders favor an attack on
the plan by which so many millions are
10 be paid to the militia, but there Is
doubt whether this Will obtain winning
support. The same doubt stlll exists as
20 n possible declaration regarding uni
versal military training, but inc
chances at present favor plank OF
this kind.
The plank on the navy also will be
strong and will condemn both the
present administration of the fleet and
the slackness which has been shown IN
construction. II will point out how the
efficiency of the navy has declined
under Wilson and Daniels. and demand
a coherent programme and prompt &C
tion in raising the feet 10. a point
where il will stand seco-1 among
those Of the great powers.
For Industrial Preparedness.
Industrial preparedness will incluoe
the tariff, organization for prompt mo-
Utilization Of industrial resources m
time Of war and recognition OF the need
Of government aid in building up the
business OF the country to meet foreign
aggression at the end Of the war, both
al home and in foreign markets. Inc
tariff will be treated more from the
point of view Of this danger than from
the old standpoint, and non-poliucal
commission will be advocated, one that
will be far more effective than the
scheme Mr.. Wilson finally has been
driven TO indorse.
Under social preparedness will Gene
the great body of reform plans which
Colonel Roosevelt has embodied under
the head of Social Justice" II viii
include better working hours, so Tar as
thew can be brought under the Federal
power; better safeguards for workers
and assurances that for them the
country will, TO quote the Colonel
again, abe worth fighting for, because
il is worth living in"