The Washington herald., 1920-07-03
DEMOCRATIC
PLATFORM LIBERAL
ABOVE ALL BEFORE,
~ WILLIAM ALLEN WHITE.
cosrTxuEp TRoa. PAGE ONE.

CONTINUED FROM PAGE ONE.
labor and capital. Tho Democratic |
pIanks were written looking with y /
rowing eye at the labor vote. But
at that those pianks do liberalize
the Democratic platform.
In the matter OF woman suffrage
the Democrats went the whole dis
tance even to refusing the -antis" q
hearing--which Is more than the
Republicans did. The Republicans
in their general committee voted
down a resolution to urge the COVER
nors OF Vermont and Connecticut to
call sessions OF the legislatures to
ratify suffrage and put in a hope
that the national suffrage amend
ment would be ratified.
Rewrite Suffrage Flank.
It remained for the National Re-
publican convention ard viii Hays
and Senator Harding TO rewrite the
suffrage plank of the Republican
platform by strenuous deeds. OBJ
serving which strenuosity the Demo-
cratic convention has come the
whole way.
In the matter of the high cost o,
living. the Republican platform rec
.ommends, as solution, a defation
of the currency; the Democrats
blame the Republican Congress and
neither plank brings down the price
of anything.
The Democrats demand Federal
control of the packers; the Repub-
licans killed that plank in their
platform. The farmers got about the
same treatment from both 'conven-
tions, the slight difference being
In the language used
The Republicans couched ther
panks in academic terms the DEM
ocrats were more plain spoken. Each
party made faces at the profteer,
but neither has scared him much.
Good roads under Federal aid are
promised by both parties.
Democrats Dodge Railroads.
On the railroad question the
Democratic declaration Is much
more vague and generally more
liberal than the Republican railroad
declaration. The Democrats consid-
cred the Plumb plan quite serious
Ily; the Republicans make fiat
footed declaration Of opposition to
the government ownership of rail-
roads, the Democrats smear some
gaudy camoufiage over their retec-
ton of the Plum plan and stress
control. But undoubtedly the DEM
ocratic. position on government
ownership is further to the left
than that of the Republicans.
In the matter of corrupt prac-
tees the Democrats took advan-
iage of the tempting opening made
by the lavish use of campaign funds
by Republican Presidential candi>
dates and the Democratic platform
contains a bright shiny new plank
proudly demanding Federal control
of>Presidential expenses.
For the rest of the platform there
are small differences between the
demands of She two parties, save
upon foreign questions and there
the differences are more seeming
than real.
League Is Safe,
For after all the marvellous plank
of the Republicans, which straddles
further than the Colossus of Rhodes
does take in everything covered by
the Democratic platform. The fact
that one foot shields the position of
Borah. Brandegee and Jim Reed does
not alter the fact that the other foot
the position of the President and
while condemning him bitterly. does
pledge the Republican party to a
league of nations which will do all
the things which he expects his
league to do. 1t is all a laundering
battle between Tweedle De and
Tweedle Dunn. The league Is safe,
whatever happens.
No one need agorize seriously over
the fact that there is. however. a
distinct difference in the leaning of
the two parties. The Republicans
stand fairly upright and non-com-
initial on liberalism with shivers
of liberalism in the matter of free
speech. free press and free assembl-
age. trading with Russia. giving the
Socialists rights to elect and seat
their representatives in Congress
and the legislatures also. The Re-
publicans declared for justice of col
lectiye bargaining; but after that
there is no bending to the left.
Different With Democrnt<.
IN the Democratic platform this
slant" is distinctly notice BILE
Sometimes II wobbles. as in the
railroad planks. Sometimes it recti-
fes itself with reservations. as in
the labor planks, which are shuf-
fed in a confusing order; and some
times. as in the case of the Presi-
Dental primary demands. the swing
TO the left Is opportunist and acci-
dental. but it is easily accomplished.
This Wilson has done for his party;
made it radical; Wilson has rcctified
~ vi a, III