Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1920-02-12

iHiS one-man-maue platform took OF
too much the character Of rubber
stamp" affair and a few years ago a sort
Of republican round robin" was under.
taken among the Vermont republican
newspaper men for the purpose of knock.
Ing into shape" a declaration Of principles
that would hold water, or hold the voters
The national committee have gone
through much the same experience as
has the organization in Vermont as regards
declaration Of principles and paramount
issues. Sometimes national sentiment
forces the adoption Of a certain plank as
did slavery in the republican platform in
1860. At other times platform declarations
have been opportunist utterances as was
the sound money plank In the republican
platform in 1896. Many a republican had
been friend of silver. but not exactly in
the proportion proposed by w. J. Bryan.
At other times, as in 1912, personal fac
Then again as was the case with Roose-
welt in 1904 and with Wilson in 1916 the
party's candidate for the presidency writes
the platform absolutely.
Chairman Hays of the republican ma
tional committee is now making a national
application of the round robin plan OF
getting data and form for the republican
platform to be adopted in Chicago In
June. According to advices from WASH
Hon. Frank C. Partridge. of Proctor, is
the Vermont representative. is getting
into shape for actual work.
In accordance with the plans formulated
for operation the committees immediate
task is the collection of opinions on more
than twenty matters of domestic concern,
with probable creation Of a number of
subcommittee to deal separately with
the various proposed planks. Foreign re-
ent as a possible factor IN the campaign
the committee waiting on the trend of
the peace treaty fight to develop what
part of the platform is to be devoted to
that subject
1t is significant in this connection that
opposition to this method is said to have
developed in Washington and especially
at the meeting where the plans were dis
cussed. Some questions were asked which
1od No. 90 Y..ll
selected to head the resolutions commit
tee at the convention, to make a spirited
defense Of the project. A similar plan,
he told the conference. had been used
with success for a number of years in
Indiana.
Meantime two senators, Moses of New
Hampshire. and Mccormick. of Illinois,
have declined to serve on the committee
because they found themselves out Of
sympathy with that method of prepar-
ing platform Recommendations. Senator
Moses is the manager of Washington
headquarters for General Wood
As outlined the work OF the committee
does not contemplate the full membership
shall be assembled at any stage OF the
pre-convention work. Most Of its DELHI
erations will be carried on by correspon-
dence through its executive secretary and
through the heads of separate groups II
1t is decided to create them to deal with
special subjects. 1t is emphasized that
the most the committee or its group will
do is to recommend and that the recon-
mendations will not be binding to the con-
vention.
If the treaty of peace is not ratified be-
fore the campaign actively begins, the
two parties will be forced to "score" for
position, with the possibility that a third
party may enter the field on platform
directly opposing any League of Nations
as Senator Johnson. Of California. and
Senator Borah. of Idaho. hold should be
Americas attitude. II compromise is
reached on the treaty in the Senate. then
there will be no overshadowing issue so
far as now appears. and platform making
in 1890 will be a somewhat perfunctory
operation. Under the circumstances, the
republicans ought to get not a few ideas
with III members Of the auxiliary plat
form committee "mul!ing' over the sit
uation for several months