New-York tribune., 1919-12-13

Oppose Makers
OF Platform
First Rift in Republican
Harmony Occurs Over
Appointment A of Twelve
Members of Committee
BY Carter Field
New York Tribune

" dSHinCfon Bureau
WASHINGTON, Dec 12.-The lid
was blown off the harmony which has
so far characterized the Republican
gathering here to-day. and tonight
what amounts almost to an ultimatum
was served on the national committee
by the Progressive element of the
party. The trouble is all over the men
appointed from the national commit
tee to serve on the committee which is
to draft the Republican platform.
The twelve men appointed from the
national committee were vigorously
denounced by some Of the Progre:sives,
not personally, but because they repre-
sent distinctly the "old guard" ele-
ment of political thought, in the opin-
ion of the Progressives.
Following are the names: Bursum,
New Mexico; Crane. Massachusetts
Crocker, California;; Highland, West
Virginia. Howell. Nebra ska; Kellogg
Minnesota; MacGrego~ Texas; More
head, North Carolina; Parsons, New
York; Penrose, Pennsylvania; Smoot,
Utah, and Warren. Michigan.
Hearing of the outbreak of the Pro-
gressives, Will H. Hays, national
chairman, hurried to the Capitol to
see some of the recalcitrants. He
missed Senator Hiram Johnson but
did catch Senator William f. Borah in
his office.
kellogg Fails to Appease
Mr. Borah gave the national chair
man a session. Incidentally, Mr. Borah
had been rather eager to do it, since
be has heartily disapproved of what he
chara cterized as pussy footing" on
the peace treaty by MIR. Hays and the
national committee.
The Idaho Senator took TIE list of
names and read them to Mr.. Hays
intimating that fine bunch of re
actionaries had been selected to hand
write" platform that would be entire
ly satisfactory to the "old guard" but
not satisfactory at all to the Progress
sive elements. :
He emphasized particularly Mr.
Penrose, Mr.. Crane, Mr.. Croker and
Mr.. Smoot, and asserted that of course
every one knew that the "old guard" in
terests controlled Mr.. Morehead, of
North Carollna, ana MI. MacIregor, OF
Texas.
But there is Senator Kellogg. He
is Progressive" suggested Mr.. Hays
Whereupon the previously mentioned
blowing off of the lid occurred.
Mr.. Hays speedily learned that
neither Senator Borah, nor Hiram
Johnson, nor Senator Norris, nor Sen
ator Kenyon, nor half a dozen of the
other Progressive Senators, was to be
appeased by the appointment of SEN
ator Kellogg.
Recognition for Progressives
The Progressive group in the Senate
is agitated as much about the peace
treaty as about the old cleavage be-
tween conservatives and Progressives
Virtually all of them were bitter end
ers" against the treaty. They all think
that it should play an important part
in the campaign. Therefore, they think
it should be put into the platform. Ano
the only Progressive appointed to the
platform committee is Frank B. Kel
logg, who was one of the mildest of the
mild reservationists during most of the
treaty fight.
Before he left the Capitol Mr.. Hays
gave the impression that among the
| Republicans who are not members Of
the national committee, and who will
be appointed later TO the platform
committee, there will be a libera
T1,.t:.,,s.-y ~, ,,rp1 fhs.oa