Evening star., 1948-06-20
|so|ationists Reported
Stunned as COP.
Starts Platform Draft
Rx the Associnted Press

PHILADELPHIA, June ia Sc
cret preliminary draft of the l948
Republican platform was drawn to-
day, embodying a foreign affairs
plank reported to cold-shoulder iso-
lationistS and a call for continued
United States world leadership to
resist Communism and keep the
peace.
But the platform writer's working
in closed session were thrown
into a dilemma by the late jam in
Congress that split Republicans
there on important international
and domestic issues. The conven-
tion group decided not to disclose
platform details until the final draft
is drawn
Senator Lodge of Massachusetts,
platform chairman, hinted there
will be revisions of the preliminary
draft to fit some of the late actions
of Congress. But, he added Il
don't see why we should sit back
here and keep our mouths shut un-
til Congress acts. The Republican
Party has a responsibility here to
speak its mind
There were some signs here of
fear of a party cleavage developing
from the disagreements in Congress.
This could bring platform fight
on the convention floor.
Middle Course is Sought.
The party policy writer's here
sought a middle ground between
the public declarations of all candi
dates for the COP nomination and
the activities in the Republican,
controlled Congress on such things
rs foreign aid, housing. aid to edu-
cation. the public private power is
sue and farm program.
In its final form. Senator Lodge
said. II think the platform will be
a tent big enough so everybody can
gec under it. l don't think any
candidate will object to it..
But he did not discount the pos
sibilitv of a convention battle on
platform language-recalling such a
floor fight over the prohibition plank
in COP convention of an earlier
da".
Race Issue Appears Waning.
The preliminary draft OF the for
eign plank was approved unani-
mouslv by a 10-member Subcommit-
tee on Foreign Affairs and National
Defense. No voice advocating iSola-
tlOniSm was reported raised in the
closed deliberations.
Moreover. the flareup on the race
issue seemed to have SubSided for
the moment at least. with a sub
committee approving another plank
calling for strong civil rights state
ment-inCluding advocacy of Fair
Employment Practice Commission,
anti-lynch and anti-pOll tax legiSla-
ton.
This plank was reported also to
cal for an end to racial segregation
in the armed forces.
Despite secrecy on the preliminary
draft. neWsmen got some hints of its
contents, but they got no word on
what the preliminary labor plank
contains. Labor spokesmen. repre-
senting the CIO and AFI, have petit
toned the committee to stand for
repeal of the Hartley Labor
Act.
May Be Shortest COP Platform
The preliminary draft contained
about $500 words 1t is made up
of recommendations by the nine
platform subcommittee which on
Thursday and yesterday heard plat
form proposals by scores of persons
in public hearings.
Senator Lodge said the drafting
committee will edit" this to around
1,50o WordS-perhap the shortest
COP platform in history. The
Democrats in 1914 drew up a plat
form of just few more than 1900
words
Asked If platform of SO few
words might not "generalize" on
some points of controversy within
the party. Senator Lodge stuck TO
his original goal of writing a party
document that will be affirmative"
in dealing with the issues of the
DAY.
He named the drafting committee
today, with himself as chairman,
end members including WILDER M.
Brucker. Michigan Mrs. Jean w.
Fuller California; Mrs. John E.
MeSservy, South Carolina: Mrs.
Ruth Stockton. Colorado; John G..
Townsend. jr. Delaware, and Ken
netll Tuggle, Kentuckr.
Housing Proves Headache.
The full l04-member Platform
Committee will meet Monday to ap-
prove the final draft. The docu-