The Washington times., 1919-12-09
SAME 192OPLANKS
FOR BOTH PARTIES
Law and Order, Anti-Redism,
kmericanism, Labor, and
n. c. L. to Fore.

Unless some political alchemist
soon hurries forward with the dis
eovery of q brand-new element out
Of which platform planks can be
fashioned, both Republicans and
Democrats must go before the peo-
pie next year with issues so nearly
alike that only an expert can tell
them apart.
This was the outstanding fact to-
day as the big moguls Of the Repub.
hcan party gathe~d here prepara-
tory to the national conference,
which will take place in the Red
Room of the Hotel Willard tomor-
row and Thursday.
League Main Issue.
Unless present signs fail. the peace
treaty, with the League of Nations.
will be the main issue between the
two parties. whether they will or no,
and despite the efforts Of both sides
to keep IL cut of the campaign.
Chairman VIII Hays. in his forecast
of what the 1920 issues would be, de-
cEared the Republican party would
take a Arm stand for law and order.
and against the Reds" a square
deal for labor. a solution to the high
cost problem and Americanism-or
America for Americans.
Democrats here declare they have
all along not only advocated but prac-
ticed precisely the same things. the
only difference between their point of
view and that of the Republicans, as
a hafn IN
the Interpretation OF what American
Ism means
Democrats Extrnvngnnt.
In short IL would appear that party
lines in 1920 may be drawn much as
they were during the debate in the
Senate over the peace treaty. the Re-
pub1icans charging. according to
Hays. extravagance IN the Demo-
cratic administration, and generally
csndemning of the Wilsonian pro-
gram
Chicago and St Louis are the
strongest contenders for the Repub-
Iican national convention next year.
and Of the two Chicago seems the
stronger. The withdrawal of the San
Francisco delegation's claims IN favor
of Chicago made the metropolis OF the
Great Lakes a big favorite in the
betting.
Many boorns are already In evidence
here. that Of Gen. Leonard Wood be-
ing perhaps the most pronounced.
Others, however. are growing fast
and the general will not have the
deid to himself by any manner of
means. Senator Hiram Johnson OF
California Governor Lowden. Of Illi-
,nois; Senator Poindexter of Washing
ton. Senator Harding of Ohio, Gov.
William c. Sproul. Of Pennsylvania
William n Taft. of Ohio: Gov. James
p. Goodrich, of Indiana; Senator James
f Watson. OF the same State, and
others are all Presidential possibili-
ties. despite the fact that some of
them are, as yet, without organIza-
tions to back them up.
sBun Moosers- for Wood.
Among the followers OF the late
Theodore Roosevelt. especially in the
South and Middle West, the popularity
of General Wood Is growing. II Is
believed that he would poll a large
soldier vote, and the big business men
OF the country are said to be looking
more and more with favor upon his
boom for the nomination. rs
Senator Johnson Of California is
regarded as a strong possibility, es-
- II
tedly the big issue insisted upon by
the Republican party leaders. John
son. with Lodge, made the fight
against the treaty in the Senate. and
through the entire debate insisted
with all his force against the ratif-
cation of the treaty and the league of
nations on the ground that they
would pledge the United States to a
policy of international politics as
L
favored
Indications were strong in Wash
fngton today that the Republican
national convention would be held
in Chicago on June 8.
It's a good guess that the second
Tuesday In June. which falls on the
eighth. win be selected as the date
for opening the convention" said a
man high in the councils of the Re-
publican National Committee, today.
The primaries will all be over by
the end of May" he declared. "and Il
IS safe bet that June s viii be
selected"
81 10000 for Campaign.
The Republican national campaign
will be financed by from one TO two
million people. contributing sums
from 81 up to $1,000, the latter being
the maximum sum that will be ac-
cepted by the Republican National
Committee from any one person,
Chairman Will Hayes today told news-
paper correspondents.
According to reports reaching
Chairman Hayes. interest in politics
IS general throughout the country. He
has received replies from 5000 county
chairmen regarding the political sit
uation in their respective sections,
and all tend to emphasize the fact
that people are evincing greater in
terest than ever in politics. This IS
particularly true OF the women" said
Hayes