New-York tribune., 1920-06-07
Party Platform
Builders Get
Down to Work
Harmony on Treaty, In
dustrial Relations and
Mexican Planks Is Pre-
dicted by Chieftains
Reaction Against Senators
Objection Raised That Re-
publican Statesmen Have
Had Too Free a Hand

party leaders virtually complete, the
Republican platform builders wen
seriously to work tonight on the more
troublesome of the planks remaining
to be fashioned
One of these was the declaration or
the Treaty of Versailles and the league
Of nations--a subject Of long-standinl
disagreement and bitter controversy
Another dealt with industrial relations
bringing into contrast widely diverse
schools Of economic thought. A thiri
related to Mexico, always a topic Of
debate and now somewhat complicated
by recent developments south of the
Rio Grande.
On all of these entire harmony was
predicted by all the party leaders, al
though most of them conceded that
some interesting scrimmages, possibly
reaching the convention floor, would
have to be fought out before there
could he an agreement.
Complicating the task for the time
being was reaction against the plat
form program worked out by some of
the leaders in conference during the
last two weeks in Washington. The
movement against that program, appar-
emily leaderless, was based on an OBJ
lection that the Republican Senators
had taken too free a hand in the pre-
convention platform construction.
Senate Fight Is Renewed
With the belated arrival from Wash
lngton of several Senators, represent
ing extremes of Republican opinion on
the treaty, the long Senate fight over
the league of nations virtually was
transferred to the conference rooms
here. They are to be the scene of re-
newed effort for a program on which
all Republicans can stand.
The irreconcilahles and the mild res
ervatlonists of the Senate are pre-
pared for g hard battle on the treaty
plank. Senator Borah, of Idaho, a
leader of the irreconcilables, arrived
late in the day with a plank which
will have the backing of the Johnson
forces. The mild reservationists held
numerous conferences and prepared
to draft plank for submission to Og-
den Mills, chairman of the executive
comr1ittec on policies and platform.
"We will fsumit our plank to the
resolutions committee" said Senator
Borah, "and if we don't see it in the
platform we will offer it in the con-
vention.
Protective Reservations Urged
THE men Of our group think we are
entitled to a straight out, affirmative
declaration for the maintenance of the
foreign policies handed down by
George Washington and James Monroe
and as advocated and reaffirmed many
times in Republican platforms since
1850"
Senator Borah was not ready to
make the Johnson-Borah plank public
but said 1t would be presented to the
resolutions committee.
1t was learned that. the mild reser-
vatonists plank would demand a cor
structive policy for ratification of the
Versailles treaty with protective rescr-
vGtions and an Endorsement of the
stand of Senators who voted for the
Lodge reservations. Senator Lodge, who
arrived to-day, deferred conferences on
ment between the various groups
would be reached
With the plank on Mexico still in it's
formative stage, there was a general
feeling that little trouble would be en-
counted IN reaching an agreement.
The declaration prepared at Washing
ton by Senator Fall, of New Mexico
however, providing for American inter
vention unless Mexico mended it's
ways, ran into some opposition and it
was suggested that it might be nlod-
tied to omit altogether the reference to
possible military interference by this
Government in the Southern Republic
To Demand Mexican Guarantees
In that case the plank would de.
clare that recognition Of the new
regime in Mexico City should be
withheld until certain guarantees had
been made. There also would be ar
attack on President Wilson's Mexican
policy and general statement of the
necessity of protecting American
rights Two former American Ambas
sadors to Mexico, Henry I. Fletcher, Of
Pennsylvania, and Henry Lane Wilson
1 of Indiana, are in consultation here
with other leaders on the subject.
Shaping the industrial relations
plank revived many old animosities ant
| brought into focus several of the is
sues raised by recent strikes and un
rest. On this plank the supporters ot
Senator johnson are generally expect
ed to have a program of their own ant
various other elements Of the party are
counted on to bring in proposals tha
will run counter to the views of som,
delegates.
Although only the less controversial
platform declarations have heretofor,
been taken up in the conference here
leaders declared that so far they hat
been able to reach complete agree
ment.
Farm Interests Plan Campaign
Organized agricultural interests to
day planned their campaign to urg,
adoption of platform plarks dealing
with agricultural enterprises Presi
dent c. S. Barrett and other officers
Of the National Board of Farm Organi
cations, composed Of many agriculture
associations, met and appointed com
mittees to present their cause to tn,
resolutions committee. Clifford Pin
chot was among those at the confer
ence.
The platform committee is expected
to adopt, virtually unchanged, the rec
concentrations respecting agriculture
Of the national committees BODY or
platforms and policies headed by Sen
ator Capper, of Kansas.
Senator Borah was chosen to repre-
sent Idaho on the Resolutions Commit
tee at a caucus tonight of the stat,
delegation.
Perkins in Sanatorium;
Will Miss Convention
Capitalist Ill Two Weeks. but