The Birmingham age-herald., 1924-06-16
VIEWS OF THE PLATFORM

VIEWS OF THE PLATFORM
 The framing of the Republican plat form was very much like framing the people. In good faith the people place party in power, often influenced by that party's avowed policy as embodied in its formally adopted platform of prin- ciples. Theoretically, the platform is the backbone of the party appeal to the voters. Actually, it should be much more than it has been during the pres ent administration. This latest Repub- lican effort, in the view of the New York Times, is document of intolera- ble length. It contains several stump speeches and some passages that read uncommonly like pleadings to an indict- ment." This last is very acute ob' servation. The Republicans instinctively realize that they are on trial even more severely than usual, for they have vivid consciousness of duty undone and of previous campaign pledges unre- deemed. They must have felt sense of mockery in restating solemnly the principles they have for four years con- sistently ignored in practice.
 The Times evidently is convinced of the insincerity of the framers of the doc ument, for it says: "This Gargantuan platform could not have been meant to be read. It is more like work of refer ence. Dryasdusts will dig into it from time to time to bring out what they want. It is,a vast compilation in which each brand of Republicanism will seek to discover its peculiar doctrine and will be sure that it has done so. But the great bulk of it is sure to be ignored during the presidential campaign, and to become covered with dust and forgotten afterward.". It is far better for a po- litical party to confine itself only to three or four major promises, and then resolutely to work to their fulfillment. The details that appear in the Repub- lican platform would far better be found in a presidents message, document which is supposed to be more specific and detailed than general party pro- gram; for, aside from certain major purposes, there can be little distinction in the aims of political parties with re- spect to matters of national routine or of established national policy.
 On the other hand, the Washington Post finds the document dealing broadly with the questions confronting the coun- try and in the main outspoken." More over, the Post thinks that "the decIara- ton in favor of the strict enforcement of law and the maintenance of public order is sufficient intimation of the party's attitude regarding the Ku Klux Klan and the Volstead law" To per sons with deeper insight, however, the Republican. assurances of law enforce ment in the fact of the Republican fail Ure to enforce prohibition with even req sonable and moderate success are insin- cere and not to be swallowed. If the party had intended any change in its law-enforcement policy it would surely have gone further than mere "intima- tion."
 There are many who will sympathize with the view of the Louisville Courier Journal that "the Cleveland platform is one of the longest, most tedious and most useless documents ever put out by a political convention" The Courier Journal analyses the platform in some detail and can commend it chiefly in the particular of its refusal to yield an inch to the demands of the LaFollette bucca- neers, even though in doing this they went to the other extreme of stand patism." In like manner the New Or leans Times-P -Picayune thinks that it twill prove disappointment to the pres ident's friends while rejoicing his foes. In brief, the platform committee bungled it's job"
 It is evident that only blind partisan ship can approve the platform document, not only because of the woodenness of it's ph1'aseology, but also because of it's patent repetition of the unredeemed pledges of four years ago. That is the hard fact that will not down.