South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1920-02-17
Other Editors Than Ours
HUNTING FOR A POLICY.
dearborn independently

viii II. Hays is chairman OF the republican
tOna committee 1t is usually the duty of the chair
man to take the policies OF his Iarty and the
didate nominated by the convention and so present
them the public that they will win at the polls
but Mr.. Hays finds himself facing a greater task
He find what the policies Of the party
or develop policies before he present them.
The policies usually put into words bv
mittee at the national convention. and that will
be done this year. but they usually exist def
initely in the hearts and the minds of the people
that the work OF the convention is merely give
expression TO beliefs well defined.
But the Iarty which served the country and the
world well under the leadership of such
Lincoln and Grant and Garfield and Mckinley
and Roosevelt had its policies for which each man
IN his turn ready to fight to the last ditch.
1t took scouting committee to find out Lin
coins policies for saving the Union, Grants
reconstruction views Garheld's labor policies
McKinley's determination to induce manufac-
turers to put up mills in which TO make goods in
place of goods bought in Europe and employ
American labor, RoOsevelt's policy later OPP
pose combinations and excessive prices by those
same manufacturers
Those men and their party stood for something;
you might agree with them not but could
know what their beliefs were and the issues they
brought into the campaigns. Men argued their be-
hefs on street corners and in stores and they
heralded in print and from platforms.
But the party which Mr.. Hays is called pilot
has outstanding leader and no outstanding policy
Mr. HAYS Is confronted with that condition and
is trying 10 formulate policy. In the first place
"a committee policy and platform appoint
ed on that committee read the Of w.
Murray crane or massachusetts, Boise PenrOSe OF
Pennsylvania, and Charles B. Warren Michigan
These men have some ideas to government and
who should administer It, In 1912 they the bull
wark of the anti-Roosevelt forces. They did their
work at the Chicago convention and that work drove
Roosevelt the party which ne had been
the leader Tor years and resulted in wrecking IT,
Times have changed. but those men are stnf
there. Maybe they have changed. Maybe not. That
remains 10 be seen.
Mr.. HAYS has appointed $50 men TO act with these
in suggesting platform for the party The $50
supposed 20 be close to the people. but their
suggestions will sifted by Crane. Mr.. Pen
rose. Mr.. Warren and others on the smaller com.
mittee
1t is a very interesting procedure watch
VIII there be among the 80 strong
enough in character and fixed enough I'm beliefs 10
force the interests OF the general public on the
committee and through them 10 the convention and
on people? For the good the republic
for the good of ALL let us hope so but let US not
be fooled.
We all know that sen Lodge. the nominal re-
publican leader. was for a League of Nations until
a democratic president came forward with We
know that .n d senate, the party OF Lodge and OF
Hays has kep his nation of a league tina
many The party fear going before the public on
the record OF the senate leaders.
Hays plan leader viii
one who can come anywhere near ranking with IN,
great leaders who have gone before, Mr.. Hays will
have done the country DISTINGUISHED service.