New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1916-05-01
Framing of Amerioanlsm
Plank May Cause Split
in the Convention.
"PUSSYFOOTERS'
WANT HYPHEN VOTE
Will Object to Antagonizing
Pacihsts-Both Coasts for
CIear.Cut Issue.

Washington. April 80. The real fight
in tho Republican convention. and
which may be even more important
than that over the nomination. will
come on the platform. politicians here
have become convinced. II will be A
fight from committee 10 floor. and there
are threats that it may end b. large
bodies Of delegates repudisting tho
platform.
Though those Who favor strong
ieht-from shoulder policy OK
pect TO win, they admit that it is i'm
possible now TO foretell the result.
The fight has already split the "old
guard" which controlled in 1912. There
is little doubt that as usual the bal
ance Of power will be held by the
Southern states which never cast a
Republican electoral vote.
The prospect Of q real fight on the
Presidential nomination has become
small There Is a general understand
ing that after the complimentary bal
lots have been cast for tho fayorite
sons the convention speedily will unite
on Hughc- Or Roosevelt. But the plat
form IS a different matter.
The leaders have agreed that Amer
canism is 10 he the issue. The plst-
form will have several ringing words
on the subject and a powerful appeal
10 patriotism. There is pretty general
agreement on preparedness, though
Middle Westerners object. and there
is no question about Mexico. The tariff
too, will receive honorable mention.
Hsnkcr for Hypheu Vote.
n is on the Americanism sentences
that the fight will be wagcd. A large
number do not want them 10 be 700
American They agree that there must
he no bid for the German vote, but
they do not want 10 slam the door m
its face. They want 10 stand ION ths
broad principles Of Americanism and
the Republican party" without causing
any one needless pain. They banker
for the hyphen vote and are planning
to get IT.
The straight-talk men want no pos
sible loophole left open for suspicion
that there is any caterin; TO the
hyphen. They agree that the platform
should not deal directly with foreign
policies, but they want il made clear
that the party is not trying to profit
from what vgor Wilson has shown.
while attacking him for not showing
more They believe that craftsmanship,
patriotism and good politics demand
that the issue of Americanism shall he
made so clear cut that no man can vote
the Republican ticket who is not an
American first and foremost. And they
gc~bs
"The platform night will be fully "a
important as the nomination fight. and
., en- more troublesome" said a Repub-
lcan leader to-day. ct would be fata.
TO permit any 'pussy-footing,' yet there
are those who want to. | know more
than one delegate who will rise in his
place and repudste any such platform.
But | do not think they can win
Want Clesr-Cut Issue.
The attitude Of the straight-out fac
tion l. that Wilson can be beaten only
by a fight Oh a clear-cut issue. They
declare that Ne is holding the middle
of-the-road." and can stay there. and
that there is no use trying to turn him
out on an issue and with a candidate
which are not essentially different.
They believe there would have been no
danger of war had it not been for his
evasive way Of meeting danger. and
that the Republicans should make this
their chief line Of attack
That this attitude will cost them the
votes Of the hyphens and pactists they
frankly admit. but they believe the
time has come 10 find out whether a
clear-cut American policy can win at
the polls.
The "pussy-footers" want leeway for
picking up votes. Many Of them have
hyphens At home. Others hate to take a
square stand on anything. and want
room to shift ground as the situation
develops. And they have arguments.
The President. and Roosevelt. too,
have done a great wrong to a mass OF
honest, patriotic. thoroughly valuable
citizens" said one. Not per cent OF
the Germans deserve the bitter things
said about them"
I'VE cannot go out of our way 10
attack foreign country or any body
OF citizens" said another. Eve should
state our principles and let those who
wish support them