Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1920-06-11
PLATFORM AGREED
| ON AS DELEGATES
| ROAR THEIR CHEERS
Any Candidate Can Accept
League of Nations With
! Equanimity.
BY G. GOULD LINCOLN.

LANSohNs
CHICAGO, June 11.-Republican
leaders and republicans of the rank
and file heaved a sigh Of relief last
night when, with a perfect roar OF
ayes" from every state delegation
the republican platform was adopted
Threats of a bolt and the bugaboo OF
a third party. with johnson and Borah
at its head. had lowered above the re-
publican horizon for twenty-four
hours. sending cold chills up and
down the backs Of the faithful.
The bone of contention. OF course.
had been the plank dealing with the
peace treaty and the league OF ma
tons. The draft that was finally
adopted by the resolutions committee
and by the convention was the result
of compromise, though 1t was hailed
as a victory for Johnson and Borah
because it did not In so many words
declare for the league OF nations with
the Senate reservations.
As a mater of fact. the plank is one
that any of the various candidates
can stand upon with perfect equanim-
ity-Woodrow Wilson alone appears
to be barred. The plank repudiates
the league of nations ss presented to
the Senate by President Wilson: 1t
peace declared by Washington, Jeffer-
son and Monroe.
What Plank Says.
But here is the real kernel in the
nut. The plank says:
We pledge the coming republican
administration to such agreement
with the other nations of the world
as shall meet the full duties Of
America to civilization and humanity
in accordance with American ideals
and without surrendering the right OF
the American people to exercise its
Judgment and powers in favor of jus
tice and peace"
Is there any reason why Senator
johnson. the bitter ender," or SEN
ator Kellogg. the mild reservation
ist". could not each stand on such a
platform?
One member of the committee on
resolutions. E. J. Gross of Wisconsin.
presented minority report on the
league of nations plank 1t was signed
by him alone. 1t was apparent from
the minute he appeared to read the
minority report that the convention
did not care to hear him. Howls and
Jeers continued until Senator Lodge.
the chairman, raped the assembly to
order
When he could make himself heard.
Mr. Gross said:
You fought for democracy. yet you
DO not wish to give member of the
resolutions committee a hearing to
do what he has right to do"
This provoked another outbreak and
again Lodge had to calm the audi
ence. Gross minority report was a
nat declaration against the league of
nations or any league, in specific
terms.
Minority Report.
If you are going on record against
the league. why not do so absolutely"
ne said. His minority report dealt
with many other socialistic schemes
also. including government ownership
OF the railroads. Of the merchant ma.
rine. and denounced universal military
training. the sedition and the espion-
age acts. etc, charging that an effort
was being made to have these acts
written into permanent law.
A feeble handicap applauded his
remarks about sedition law Don't
be afraid to applaud" was his sar-
castle comment. which enraged the
audience. There were cries of get
through. throw him out etc. He
took fling at compulsory military
service in time of peace and declared
for the self-determination Of the
Irish. but instead of applause he only
drew Kisses
When the question was put by Sem
ator Lodge on the adoption of the
substitute. half dozen faint "aye s'
were heard. but whether from the
delegates or a section OF the audience
II was difficult to determine. The
noes roared out from all sides.
Platform Is Approved.
The Platform as adopted met with
general approval from the delegates
They frequently interrupted to APP
plaud its reading. particularly where
II attacked the President and his adj
mlnlstration. 1t deals generously
with the women and the demands
which they have made. There is no
prohibition plank. An effort was made
to get William Allen White to offer
a minority report on this matter. but
IL did not succeed. Nor was there any
plank declaring for free Ireland.
The name of Theodore Roosevelt
was mentioned once on the platform
and was greeted with prolonged
cheers. So was the pronouncement
against strikes by government en-
ployes. against persons who advocate
the overthrow of the government by
violence
When Senator Watson read the sub
title, The League of Nations" there
was long drawn "Ah" from the
throng. II was what they had been
waiting for.
Convention Reconvenes
It was 4:3o O'Clock in the after