New-York tribune., 1920-03-28
Mills Outlines
Platform Ideas
OF Republicans
Twenty-one Topics Will Be
Offered to Convention;
Questionnaires Are To
Be Prepared by Experts
Reflect Popular Views
Plan Declared to Promise
Development of a Con-
structive Party Program

Ogden L. Mills, former state
Senator and chairman Of the executive
board Of the advisory committee. on
policies and platform Of the Republi-
can National Committee. speaking for
the advisory committee, said that the
topics under inquiry are the follow
ing:
Railroads, involving all trapsporta-
tion; Agricultural Policies; National
Economy, Retrenchment and Budget;
Military and Naval Affairs; Tariff;
International Trade, Currency and
Banking; Merchant Marine; Regula-
tion of Industry and Commerce: Law
and Order; Pensions, War Risk In
surance and Vocational Training;
Industrial Relations and Problems of
Labor and Capital; Limitations Of
Federal and State Control and Reg
ulation; High Cost Of Living; Con-
servation; Civil Service and Retire
ment; Insular Possessions; Social
Problems; Review of Democratic
Administrations and Wartime Legis-
lation; Taxation; immigration; Pos
tai Reform.
Experts Prepare Questionnaires
''The advisory committee on policies
and Platforms" said Senator Mills,
"has prepared a series Of questionnaires
covering the numerous important topics
which are likely to be considered by
the Resolutions Committee of the Re-
publican National Convention in con-
mi a 40
platform of the Republican party.
These questionnaires will be made pub
lie from time to time. They have been
prepared by experts with the utmost
care and are in such form as to de-
velop pertinent facts and the views Of
men and women Of standing and judg-
ment in all parts Of the country. What
is being made is in fact complete
survey on each subject, and there is no
question that the data will be Of real
value to the Resolutions Committee and
greatly assist it to determine the posi-
tion of the party upon the vital issues
of the time
"The advisory committee is made up
all sections of the country and all Of
its leading business, industrial, labor,
commercial, banking, farming and pro-
fessional interests The committee has
certain distinct functions-the investi-
cation Of existing needs and conditions
in so far as they affect specific prom
lens which it is expected will be con-
sidered by the national convention, the
collection Of pertinent facts and data,
the securing of the fullest expression
Of public opinion and the submission
Of the results of these various iaaui-
ries in convenient form to the r61blu-
tions committee Of the national con-
vention.
''Twenty-one Topics Selected
"Twenty-one topics have been select
ed for study and each covers a mum ber
of subjects. The preparatory work has
been SO distributed that upon each topic
is concentrated the combined brains of
the members of the committee whose
experience equips them to deal with it
in an expert way. These members are
being assisted by stats selected for the
special knowledge they possess.
"The time for completing SO vast an
undertaking with such thoroughness as
we would desire is limited, but there
is every reason to expect that the Com
nittee on Policies and Platform will
submit to the Committee on Resolutions
Of the National Convention such data
as will enable it to frame party plat
form and program, based on a careful
consideration of existing conditions, a
businesslike investigation of available
data and wider expression of opinion
and advice than has hetetofore been
. available
at is not too much to say that this
whole procedure is great step forward
in the method of developing con-
structive party program, and it presents
to the. people the best possible proof
that the Republican party recognizes
the complexity and seriousness of the
problems Of the day, and proposes to
deal with them in just, sound and
practical manner, fashioning their
promises in the light of experience
and fact, rather than presenting them
because Of their supposed popularity
or merely vote-getting appeal"