Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1924-06-30
A Platform of Expediency.

ADDISON Square Garden had cleared
-iway Sunday morning the Democratic
party had platform for the campaign
of 1924. 1t had been put together at
the cost of tremendous effort. The
building of it had evoked intense bit
terness of feeling. On two pianks the
conflict ragged most tiercely, those re-
lating TO the league Of nations and to
the ku kluX Khan. 1t was appropriate
that of these two fights the most hotly
contested should come last. with the
narroweSt of margins i'll the decision.
BY Il majority that is so close that
even yet it has not been officially an.
nounced the party decided to avoid di-
rect mention of the hooded organiza-
ton. BY an emphatic majority it re-
solved to praise the league of nations
and leave the question of American
entrance to referendum of the
people.
Attention necessarily concentrates
upon these two planks of the platform.
The remainder of it is of the usual
kind, denunciatory of the opposition
and laudatory of the Democracy, free
in promises and sharp in reproaches.
1t is, in short, the usual party pro-
nouncement.
Expediency dictated avoidance Of
direct demand in the name Of the
Democracy for the entrance OF the
United States into the league OF ma
lions. The platform. however, definite
ly commits the party to the league
proposition. and pledges it to carry out
the mandate of the people if by refer
endum vote they should express
wish that this country join the league.
Advocacy of the referendum pro-
posal was pitched in the key of avoid
ing a conflict of issues. Let the Ameri-
can people, it was argued. vote on this
question distinctly and without COM
plication. Let the league question be
separated from all other issues. The
1000, 900 majority given to Harding
and Coolidge in 1920, said the pro
ponents of the referendum plan, was
not given against the league. OF
course, they could not say that it was
given for the league, although those
favoring a referendum were emphatic
in their assertion that if this question
is presented to the people singly and
uncomplicated a tremendous majority
will be given to it. That, of course,
is speculative.
Expediency likewise dictated avoid
ance of the Klan by direct denuncia-
ton. The plank that was adopted was
in effect an anti-Klan declaration. 1t
Is noteworthy that the southern dele
gates. representing the section where
the klan is strongest, cast SO and
fraction votes for direct mention and
283 and a fraction votes against it.
Yet the adoption of the non mention
plank is not necessarily to be regarded
as Khan victory 1t is d victory for
expediency.
1t cannot be said that the Demo
cratic party has gained by these two
expedients Of avoidance. 1t stands
quite clearly committed to the league
Of nations principle and against the
hu hluA hlctu. IL Guy
those who do not wish the United
States to enter the league and, with
out gaining equivalently in political
strength. those who are affiliated or
sympathetic with the hooded organiza-
ton.
The travail Of the days of platform
making brought the party to the task
Of choosing candidates in a strained
and bitter spirit with factions sharply
defined. with animosities aroused The
denunciations of Republican misman-
agenent that d short time ago consti-
tuted the chief and most promising as
set for victory in this campaign are
now diminished in force and probable
effectiveness by last weeks happen
ings.