The Bennington evening banner. (Bennington, Vt.) 19??-1961, 1916-05-29
HILLES PREDICTS
BRIEF PLATFORM
At CHICAGO
Will Deal Only With Vital Public
Questions
FORECASTS BOLT BY ROOSEVELT
National Chairman lntimates Much
Depends Upon Candidate Selected
and Platform Adopted.

Chicago, May 29.-Chairman Charles
d. Hilles of the republican national
committee yesterday expressed the op-
inion that the platform which will be
adopted by the national convention
next month would be unusually brief
and deal only with the most vital pub
lie questions. From information OBJ
tanned in talking with party leaders
on the subject he believes the prin-
cipal planks in the platform will in
clude the following.
A statement on Americanism.
A statement on preparedness for
adequate military and naval defense.
A declaration in favor of a protec-
tive tariff to be prepared by non
partisan tariff committee created by
Congress. with special attention to the
needs of the industries of this coun-
try after the close of the European
war.
A declaration in favor of merchant
marine.
A statement dealing with alleged
shortcomings of the democratic Ma.
tiOnal administration.
On the question of national woman
suffrage, Chairman Hilles said there
was difference OF opinions among the
party leaders and he did not know
what action the convention would take
on the subject.
The national congressional union Is
the first organization to make formal
application to appear before the com
mittee on resolutions OF the conven.
tion. it will urge the republicans to
insert a plank in favor of a suffrage
amendment to the constitution. and
Chairman Hilles has promised the
women a hearing before the commit
tee. The only other organization thus
far to ask for a hearing is the navy
league of the United States. which
will send committee of 20, headed
by its president, Robert VI. Thompson,
70 plead for a plank for the enlarge.
ment of the navy.
In speaking of the probable action
of the progressive national convention
called to be held June in Chicago
simultaneously with the republican ma
tional convention, Chairman Hilles
said:-
81 imagine everybody assumes that
the progressives will nominate Roose.
welt for president. If the republican
convention adopts a straightforward
sincere. ringing declaration of the vital
public questions now being discussed
and nominates man clearly equal to
the important tasks which will con.
front the next president, Roosevelt
might not think there would be ans
| need of his entering the field. But il
the republicans nominate a man who
| Mr. Roosevelt thinks is a misfortune
| and adopt platform which he regards
as bunk he may feel so outraged as
to run and perhaps help re-elect Pres
ident Wilson"
Chairman Hilles denied report
that the organization had ever thought
oi attempting to force the nomination
Of a candidate for president the frs
day CT the convention
Such a plan has never even beer
discussed by members of the natlona
committee, and 1t would he impos
sible," he said. THE convention vii
follow precedent, 1t will meet at !
a. M, Wednesday, June 7, listen t,
the address of the temporary chair
man and appoint the committees.
THE second day will be devoted t
permanent organization and consider
alton OF committee reports. which, g
course, will include the adoption G
the party platform. The third da
will he devoted to the nominatin
| speeches. There is a disposition I
place no time limit on these speeche,
after that will come the ballotin
for president and president. an
nobody knows how long It will take I
get through. We hope to get throug
Saturday; but II there is dead loc
the convention may 20 over to Moi
day
"The convention win be a truly d.
! liberato body, and it is pure COME
ture to attempt to say what Il will
in the matter OF nominating cand
date for president, or when It will g,
through"