Evening star., 1937-11-09

should continue a do-nothing- and
wait-for something to- happen policy,
eriticizing the present administration
without telling the country what the
parry would do If given the reins of
government.
The final determination to appoint
q Policy Committee and to hold the
saatter of a midterm convention in
sbeyance represents distinct progress
toward an outline of a Republican
program Very few of those who advo-
Gated the holding of convention
really felt it was the principal problem.
They recognized that selection of dele
gates would involve much discussion
and perhaps controversy, but that first
and foremost was the development Of
party policy.
There are two schools of thought
on this point, too. Some would set
forth some general principles. Others
would go further and actually attempt
10 formulate program which the
Republican party would pledge itself
10 carry out If successful at the polls.
To voice C0nSaOefc0 views.
Obviously a detailed formula too far
in advance OF the elections would be
considered unwise by the political
strategists because conditions change
rapidly nowadays. But on the broad
question of letting the American people
know just what the Republican party
in general might attempt if elected to
Office, the decision now is to proclaim
something that is more concrete than
. vaguely worded platform adopted
In the hurry of national convention.
What the country wants to know
and by "the country" one means the
100000 to 100000 independent
voters-is whether the Republican
party would repeal or amend the So
cial Security Law, whether the Wagner
Labor Relations Act would be re-
pealed or its provisions changed and
how, whether any effort would be made
to improve the lot of the low-income
groups and what form in a general way
the effort would take. whether tariffs
would be increased or whether some
plan would be sought to reduce them,
whether the Government bureaus
would be reorganized to promote eff
cheney or let alone to drift along in
slipshod fashion as they have for
generations.
The Republican party's Policy Com
mittee has great opportunity. 1t can
make real beginning toward a con-
structive program or it can satisfy it
self with lot of generalities. What
ought to be done is to appoint num-
Der of subcommittees of the National
Policy Committee and each subcom-
nnittee should hold conference on its
own topic, calling to its aid the best
qualified men and women in the coun-
try irrespective of party. Then COM
prehensive reports should be made by
the subcommittees and made public so
that comment could be made by the
rank and file Of the voters. After the
subcommittee reports were debated by
the public, another series Of reports
could be formulated based on the sug-
Eesttons offered.
Brevity Idea Attacked.
The political leaders of the day
have unfortunately been told that
brief set OF principles is enough. that
brevity Is important and that what is
needed is another Thomas jefferson
to write another Declaration of Inde-
pendence. But one of the best docu-
ments on public affairs for the last
80 years was not digest or a brief
declaration at all namely, the report
of the Senate Committee on the Ju-
dietary with reference TO the proposed
enlargement OF the Supreme Court
Many people who were loud in their
praises OF the Senate report never
read it, but took secondhand the high
opinion of the report formed by those
who did read it. II the Republican
Policy Committee makes comprehen-
hive reports and really digs into the
various subjects, the country will soon
enough discover whether the Repub-
bcan party Is alive TO its responsible