The Washington herald., 1920-06-09
Roars Of Past Do Not Greet
Appearance Of Favorite
Leaders.
HAYS IS APPLAUDED
Crowd More Quietly Inter-
ested Than Ever Be-
fore as Show Opens.
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as an eminent Shriner, and organ
izer OF Republican clubs in Massa-
chusetts, led the audience in sing
ing the national anthem, somewhat
In the athletic fashion affected by
yell-masters at a college football
game. The song fell short in pa
.triotism of what he desired. so he
wound up by calling for three
cheers for the greatest country In
the world" 1t Is rather a pity that
so many Of our public futures are
not content to leave something Of
our national self-conceit to the
imagination OF our rivals.
Lodge Made Chairuan.
Straightaway thereafter the name
of Henry Cabot Lodge was put in
nomination for temporary chairman n
and declared elected without the
formality of asking for negative
vote. Senator Lodge launched him
self upon the delivery of a speech
of formidable printed copy at his
hand. Said last night It would
take about thirty-fve minutes,
said Boston newspaperman at my
side. But the appearance of the
printed sheet belied the estimate.
and in fact the delivery occupied
well over an hour.
To those who hoped that a for
NAL address, ofiicially described as
the Keynote" might preach some
new and stimulating doctrines. set
up some advanced standards for a
progressive people to struggle to-
ward, approach the problems of the
time which are certainly new in a
spirit of intellectual inquiry and
liberal thought the speech of Sena-
tor Lodge must have been a grave
meanor OF the great audience meant
anything whatsoever II signified
after the orator had sufficiently
indicated the temper Of his though,
that such disappointment was in
fact general. There was seldom
any sign of acute interest. and the
few bursts of applause followed
usually upon thrusts at the Wilson
administration.
Explanations Differ.
Explanations of the reason fol
this apparent apathy diner. But Il
is safe to look upon the attitude
of the galleries as a reflection oi
the general disappointment which
the selection OF Lodge for keynotel
created in the FIRST place 1t ha,
come like q cold douche upon the
hopes and aspirations of the pro-
gressive Republicans that after the
bitter experiences of 1912 and 1911
the leaders of the Republican part.
can do no better than to harl
back to standpatters of the Lodge
type for the exponents Of the part,
creed in this year 1920. or tn,
three candidates before this con
vcntion who have made a positiv,
impression upon the country al
arc distinctly progressive. Wood
Johnson and Hoover. each in /;
different degree q candidate of tn,
people rather than of the politi
clans. are all absolutely out of &C
cord with the fundamentals of po
llitical action for which Lodg,
stands. i do not refer especially t
their attitude on the controversies
issue OF the league of nations, bu
rather to those more Fundamental
principles of legislation which hav,
been grouped roughly as progres
sive. Nothing that Lodge could b,
expected to preach could be o
/ interest to follower of eithe
/ Wood or johnson.
There should be to the Republican
leaders a certain lessen in this obvi
Gus apathy Of the convention gal
leries. If the seeming search foI
/ r candidate who shall be as redo
lent of the commonplace tradition,
Of the past shall be successful ther;
can be little hope of holding to tn,
Republican party voters who hope,
that in this year something of tn,
spirit Of Roosevelt might find ex