New-York tribune., 1920-06-30
|RobinsOnMakes
General Attack
On,Republicans
Platform, Pre- Convention
Expenditures and Stand
:. of Senator's OH League
. >Assailed by Chairman
Urges Armenian Mandate
Charges In sincerity in
Declarations Made at
the Chicago Convention

the Ol1lcaSO NOnVcntIOn
1 SAN FRANCISCO, June 29.-Senato,
pobinson, of Arkansas, permanent
.sairmsn of the Democratic National
convention, in his speech to-day as
,siIed the Republican party for its
cb;eago platform, for the use of
large sums of money in pre-conven-
ton contests, and particularly attacked
! the Republican Senators who fought
4 me ratification of the peace treaty with
/ ,he League of Nations covenant.
/ Tested by every standard which
4 voters usually apply" he said, "the
Democratic party is entitled to victory
4 in the coming campaign. Comparison
Of the Democratic and Republican
records, contrasts of political policies
ind of party leadership, justify the
belief that the Republican party will
he driven from power in both branches
81 Congress and that complete control
Of the government will be restored to
the Democratic party in the November
elections, because that party has earned
: the public confidence.
-"The Republican platform adopted
at Chicago is an amazing tumble of
j antiquities, Inconsistencies, evasions,
nisrepresentations, 'straddles' and
flanders 1t is deliberately unfair in
charging upon the Democratic Admins
tration all responsibility for military
L. !
the Republican party controlled the
! government for long period prior to
i The Inauguration of President Wilson.
Charges Insincerity
] "The plank in the Republican plat
form respecting taxation is manifestly
4 nsincere. They promise no substantial
I relief from the exacting tax burdens
necessarily imposed during the war.
/ There are many veXatious taxes that
should be repealed now that the war is
over The big joker in that amazing
document is the plank in the Republi-
can platform concerning profiteering:
awe condemn the Democratic Ad-
pinistration for failure impartially to
enforce the profiteering laws en-
seted by the Republican party
,"Who will be deceived by this absurd
enacted no anti-profte ering laws. The
4 amendments to the food control act
1 we're suggested by the President and
npported by the Democrats in Con-
4 sress. The President recommended
hur additional measures to prevent
| Ind penalize profiteering. All these
| Aeasures were pigeonholed. Nothing
/ tas proposed by the Republicans in
dlace of them.
! Perhaps the most significant omis-
| lon from the Republican platform is
| n respect to the excessive use Of
| money in Federal elections. In spite
q the general Indignation aroused by
! fhe expenditure of more than one mill
Sn and a'i'haf dollars in behalf
/ II General Wood and almost million
. dollars in behalf of Governor Lowden
I and the nomination of a dark horse
| Is the result. no mention of the subject
+ found in the Chicago platform.
7@lt has been said that partisansh;~
| tfases at the waters edge. The politi-
. cal record of the last few months be-
i lies this declaration. The Republican
3 party in the Senate and in its recent
> convention presents to the world the
d humilating spectacle of discordant and
conflicting factions seeking to discredit
the President in his efforts to main
tain the respect and confidence of our
allies.
"The Chicago platform declared that
the policy of the Wilson Administra-
ton toward Mexico is responsible for
the loss Of lives and property resulting
10 American citizens in Mexico. Never
regarding Mexico are ambiguous and
Indefinite. Does the plank in the Rep
ualican platform on Mexico mean that
Il the property or lives of American
aazens in Mexico are hereafter
endangered this government will make
var on Mexico and establish a pro-
sestorate? Why was the convention
not frank enough to announce a
sshnite policy? Why was its meaning
concealed in a multiplicity of ambig-
aeus words?
Armenian Mandate
The President is condemned for
ifing authority of Congress to excer-
eae mandate for Armenia. 1t has
as'er been contemplated by any one
nat the United States should assume
!aat responsibility without first pres
shoing the terms and conditions of
sae mandate. the mandate may readily
y made self-sustaining. Why, then,
mould the Presidents request be
seatsd az audacous?
:. -G.eat Republican leaders, including
s!: Lodge and Mr.. Roosevelt, in public
ssofesses prior TO the war, championed
se establishment of League Of Ma
asas. They anticipated and answered
s.n irresistible logic they were argu-
'as league.
The plain fact Is that the enemies
= y 'he league dictated the policy Of
.ss majority in the Senate and con-
cs: n9iisd the platform declaration at
saeago. While the league plank in
~ 'oaicago platform is full Of ambi-
, s.aes, 1t is an Endorsement of the
ssl.ons Of the irreconcilables and a
''ps-aiation Of the Lodge reservations.
r..la ias chief issue is whether the
.sl'sd States shall contract with other
~ssst sa.ns 70 prevent unnecessary wars;
'ss.asr the waste and sacrifices Of
,s'astifab!e conflicts shall be super
,.. .sa BY orderly tribunals for the
~