New Britain herald., 1924-06-12
THE REPUBLICAN PLATFORM

When the platform committee al national convention engages itself in writing the party's election creed. aid- ed and abetted by statesmen and poli- tcians, it is In effect similar to attor- neys preparing a brief for clients. There is a deal Of pointing with pride and party lsudation, with here and there cautious references to the heavier public questions weighing on the public mind. Considering the exigencies Of 1924 campaign weather, the republican platform spun from the web at the Cleveland convention is as good fine and noble a document as could have been expected.
 The captious cynic naturally finds search warrants. The hide-bound, hard-boiled, well-regulated republi- can just as naturally discovers that Inc document is "one Of the finest in the history of the party"
 The truth probably will lie between the two. The platform document forms q fairly solid foundation upon which the campaign can be built. but the public has learned before this that platform promises, like other election promises, are not necessarily to be taken literally.
 Among tho more vital blanks in the platform, which 1t is said was dictated by President Coolidge over the tele- phone. is that relating to the world court. The plank is more definite by lar than tho international relations plank in the 1920 platform, which dealt moa'1y in generalities and was more Of criticism Of President Wil- son and the league Of nations than constructive.
 President Harding's front porch Association of nations" supplement Is entirely ignored in the present plat form Evidently this weak sister to the league of nations is no longer in good re7ute with republican managers. Tho world court idea, accepted in toto by President Harding after the asso- ciation of nations plan began to be sidetracked, has been likewise accept cd by President Coolidge and put in the platform as the present occupant of the White House wants if, not as Messrs. Lodge and Pepper would have liked to dcnature fl. The plank not only endorses tho permanent court Of international justice. but favors the adherence Of the United States to inc tribunal AS recommended by the president.
 A inc same time the league of na- tlsn~ is mentioned as having been definitely waved aside by the voters Of America. and the party refuses 10 consider assuming any obligations un- der The covenant Of the league. Co., operation with European nations without cntangling alliances is the ! keynote of inc party's foreign policy. ]
 Although the party insists that the people in i92J definitely voted down . the league of nations. there is sppar- ent realization that the leas3e idea Of . international co-opc ration is in over whelmine demand. The world court, being an inst rnmcnt of the league and functioning under it is satisfsc- tory because it has another name. In 1920 there eas uo strcssins the world court because to have done SO would have appeared like courting a fair daughter of tbs league while at inc same tifnc arnounciug Inc papa. Dad ts noe supposed b be dead, so far as The rnitad States is concerned. and Inc daughter i- of ago.
 Thr calling of t9Hf,rrf.c ou thc Limitation of land forars Inc tFse Of submarines aad poison gas, is in lime viih popular sentiment one of tb, ob5rc's or tHe world rar WIS to cIim- inate fniIitarism. but according 10 Inc platform statement and general knosie1re tHere has tmen an in- crease tG iaus and air forces abroad. constituting p menacr 10 the peace Of ths world. At the time or inc naval disarmament coHfer"nrc Briand for France would not listen t0 inc Hard ing proposal for rur1silment of land forces bBt since that lime conditions . in Europe have vastly changed Constant yigilanra fo prescrvc |, rIsau and honest government and h, prosecute JeHlers of 'he public serr- g .re is advocated. The man who was [ -nost yigilant in the administration a sEsfHs' tHe "dsfiars" zas seuatar ' pho had fsfhsrcI the [