The Washington herald., 1920-05-20

Must be Boiled Down.
All that the resolutions commit
tee at the Chicago convention now
has to do, apparently, is to boil
down into hundreds of words, for
platform purposes, the tens of
thousands of chunks OF wisdom
submitted by The Hays experts.
The experts, in conclave assembled
in Washington, disagreed, as ex-
perts always do but they got'to-
gether on vital points and will
have ready at Chicao, for the plat.
form committee of which Senator
James Z. Watson, of Indiana is
chairman, what is proudly claimed
TO be the most authoritative ma
terial ever at the party's disposal
Tor keynote purposes.
Agreement Is Reached.
1t will presently develop, I am re-
lfably informed, that more real plat
form business has been accomplish
ed in Washington this week outside
of Senator Lodges office than in it,
In particular. the party managers
the, astute personages who really
control the organizations activities
have arrived at conclusions on the
two vital issues: thetreaty and pro-
hibItion.
1t now is certain thatthe plank
adopted last week by-fhee Indiana
Republican convention will be sub
Elitted to the national convention
as the official formula for meeting
the treaty situation. The plank ad-
vCcates the institution of a world
court" for arbitration of interna-
tiOnal disputes and international de-
liberations about reduction of ar
manents. 1t advocates, in short. a
league OF nations without calling 1t
by that name. It. is possible to give
the inside story of the origin of the
Indiana plank, destined to become
historic LefoYe 1920 is over. Before
Senators Watson and New took the
plank to indianapolis it's subject
matter was carefully dissected and
discussed in Washington. Senator
Henry Cabot Lodge, chief reserva-
zionist, had 4 look at it, and so did
oartisans of Senator Hiram W.
Johnson, archpriest of the bitter
snders.
The plank, as eventually adopted
in Indiana, was not textually drawn
up in Washington. But before sub
mission to the State convention Sem
ators Watson and New will be able
20 snform Hoosier Republicans that
G was the nearest possible approach
: % a plank likely to be acceptable
fso the warning G. o. P. elements.
The party hierarchy at the Ma
ional Capital agreed that Indiana
,ouId well be clothed with the dis
inction of fathering the keynote
flank. The State is important,
rom the Republican standpoint.
md the convention was held at a
psychological moment.
Outcome I'm Doubt.
Today no one will, or can, pre-
Hct with assurance that the plank
will be accepted unanimously or
wen enthusiastically at Chicago.
But 1t will be offered with the
,arty's o. K. in the sacred name OF
harmony. At the end of last week.
few hours after its adoption in
Indianapolis, Chairman Hays sent
ne plank around to Republican
hfeftains in Washington with an
animation that the magic solution
lad at last been found.
VIII Urge Enforcement.
Unless circumstances now entire
v unforeseen intervent, the Repub-
lean party at Chicago will take its
tand squarely on prohibition. The
latform will be dry, unreservedly.
1t will view the issue as having
,een settled by the Eighteenth
amendment and the Volstead en-
orcement act. 1t will imply that
he liquor question, having been
onstitutionality settled, has for the
Ine being been removed from the
calm of. practical politics.