New-York tribune., 1920-05-09

T. Americanization ........... oSz
National Defense. ............ BAL
Cost Of Living. g.............. 4u9
The Constitution .......... 371
I. Bolshevism ............... $40
8. Education .................. oo'
Q. Conservation ............... 3VS
10. Taxation .................. z"l
II. Tariff .........'...'. lS'
u. Mexican Question .......... 1S1
10. Budget ................' LA
"a. Merchant Marine ......... 14S
Conditions Of Contest
The contest conditions, inviting Re-
nublicans everywhere to help in writ
Ing the platform for the 1920 campaign,
provided prizes for ten planks on the
issues that received the greatest num-
ber of votes-S5OO for the plank that
best expressed the issue dealt with,
$3.50 for the next best and 500 each
for the other eight Also daily prize
Of $40 was given for the best letter dis
cusing the issues, the best letter of
the entire competition to receive 500.
After the judges had selected the
planks to represent the ten leading is
sues, it was apparent that several i'm
portant problems had not been COW
cred. The decision was then made to
add four planks to the platform. AL
though the terms Of the contest called
for the award of only ten prizes for
planks, the judges believed that it
was only fair that the writer's of these
four planks should be recognized, and
prize of $50 for each additional
plank was awarded.
A daily record was kept Of planks
and letters which were voted as they
arrived. OF the great mass of sugges-
ton and discussion, as much as pos
sible was published each day. From
time to time detailed survey of all the
issues was given. Failure of plank to
appear In print did not mean that it
was not considered in the award of
prizes. AS a matter of fact, two planks
on Foreign Relations, that by Raymond
c. Ellis, which takes first prize, and
that on Conservation, by Jacob W.
Friedman, also a prize winner. have
their first publication to-t.y, being
among the late arrivals on the last
day Of the contest.
In review Of the competition. it
should not be lost to sight that the
platform contest has been truly ma
uohal in scope and representative in
character. The platform is the result
VI 'he efforts of Republican voters of
every degree, from leaders of national
standing to the average citizen who
nsVer before had q direct hand in writ
ing political platform. Not the least
interesting features have been supplied
W women and by the faculties and stu
usHs oody of institutions of learning.
ine Inoune's platform may be said
'ruiy to have been written in the
'noughtful atmosphere of the homes
and libraries of the land.
Problem for the Judges
Inc great problem that confronted
'"s Judges was to find planks that
''e broad enough to represent the
49, ,s.ues adequately. The limitation of
-OV words made concentration in
"'ieas essential, and often the con-
'es'ant had sacrificed important ele-
limit set. Il '''0
Aasn' too, there was a tendency to-
s''e indefiniteness. The tests which
A' Judges sought to apply we're clear
Asss OF thought, felicity of express
s.Oa and defniteness. Often they
.'aaa well-written plank which was
~. ~ 'aaehnite that it could have been
'H.erpreted number Of ways.
.,. ius Foreign Relations plank, for
"'sh the first prize was awarded.
0'e OF great number calling for
'sague with reservations. But in
hrsI sentence, it made the
s',as s. 'hat while the United States
NOT engage in entangling alll-
S IL must nevertheless acknowl.
~ AIS international duty.
le same problem was presented in
=, T,A''aering the plank on Bolsheyism.
mere were many planks which aAyo-
p.,u @ some means or other of curing
solsaeyism deportation, stringent
raslon ~. Of immigration and the
4. nut there were few that touched
~ ~ @e larger aspect of the question.
~. ~ issue that is now agitating the
.pry-the broad question Of policy
adopted toward radicals.
'ndehniteness was most marked .,
n. w pianks on Capital and Labor,
~" were many which advocated
"anony between the worker and his
ap'oyer' without suggesting how
90 was to be brought about. There
e'e many others which advocated In
saene way the enforcement Of arb,.
,.ss s..0n without presenting any arbi.
''asssn achems.