The Tacoma times. [volume] (Tacoma, Wash.) 1903-1949, 1918-06-27

Forget
Parties,
Appeal


Whether the republican
state platform is to be con-
fined wholly and solely to the
support OF President Wilson
and the national administers
ton In winning the war, or
whether state politics and
state legislation is to be in
jected, doomed up as the
foremost issue to be fought
out before the end of the day
on the floor of the state con-
vention at the Elks temple
Thursday.
At the close of the morning
session the question was still
hanging fire and the exclusively
win-the-war platform was meet
ing strong opposition.
Clark " Savidge, selected chair
man of the convention, opened the
way soon after the session opened
when in stirring address, full of
burning patriotism, he declared:
"Our platform is already writ
ten. 1t was written before We
ever set foot in Tacoma. 1t was
written at the firesides of millions
of American homes where moth
ers sit thinking of there boys over
there who are fighting our battles
to save the world. 1t is this:
Win the War!
"Win the war! Then care for
him that has done battle for u.s."
A few minutes later, however,
when Delegate F. Fl. Handshey
of Bellingham. offered a resolu-
tion to instruct the platform COM
mittee to confine the platform
strictly to measures in support of
the administration and war-win-
ming, opposition Immediately
arose.
State Senator Joes Smith I'M
mediately raised point OF order
that the resolution could not be
considered as the permanent or
ganization had not yet been COM
pleted.
The resolution was expected to
come before the convention later
in the day.
Dry Question, Too.
Another issue which was expect
ed to raise lively fight on the
floor of the convention is that OF
endorsing the national prohibi-
ton amendment. 1t was reported
Thursday morning that the plat
form committee had "ditched'
this plank which was endorsed at
the Pierce county convention, and
that it would be carried to the
floor.
The convention was called to
order shortly before IL o'clock by
r. c. Harper, state chairman. The
Elks hall was jammed with dele
gates and was brilliantly decorat-
ed with the flags of all the allies.
The program opened with the
singing of America" Ex-Con-
gresham Will e. Humphrey was
escorted to the platform.
Savidge Big Hit.
The convention officers, named
by the state committee, were an
nounced by Harper-Savidge,
chairman; Roy C. Lyle of Seattle.
secretary, and A. w. Calder Of
Vancouver assistant secretary.
Chairman Savidge, altho he an
nounced 1t was the first political
convention he had ever attended,
took the delegates by storm with
his address.
Appealing to the delegates not
to fritter away moment OF time
on any subject except that OF WIN
ming the war, he vas cheered to
The echo.
No Time for Folly.
America is passing thru the
shadows of the greatest veil Of
sacrifice in the history OF the
world" he said. "If we pass
thru this shadow it will be be-
.ause we as individuals love
America before all things. We
are submitting to demands on our
services in time and money that
we never dreamed of.
eff we here today fritter away
our time with idle words, then we
had better be at home gathering
moss for the women to make
@andages to bind up the wounds
VI the men who are fighting for
us.
"Our platform is written in the
hearts OF. the fathers and mothers
Of the nation. Every minute the
slock ticks off means that some
man has fallen over there for the
cause of liberty and humanity"
Nichols Has Planks.
He urged the republican party
% roll up its sleeves in winning
.Ahe war, and deal with the demo-
Gratis later, after "the Stars and
Stripes are unfurled on the palace
at Berlin"
Senator Ralph Nichols attended
the convention prepared with res
olutions to put the convention on
record for home rule, for taking
the powers over city streets and
street cars sway from the public
service commiesion; for the de-
velopmenf o. the water resources
Of the state for the public and not
for private profit; for adequate
wages or mem ~ well 90 women
vofkurH and for = corrupt prac-
fices law 0ornpsIIlng I'll political
cnuA>1rtua q dlBc1oBo N legisIa-
AfMs<. y - ~ ~ - go n 6{lwnd ann