Foreign Issue Leads Tribune Platform List \inenraniwitioii Is Second in Popularity, With l,a hor. Capital and Social Legislation Next in Order Bolshevism Well to Fore Problem of Army and Navy Ranks Seventh in Interest; Tariff Seems Submerged The Tribune's National Republican pat form Contes! has entered its sce ? week ?! a greatly accelerated pace. \\ -h a total of 1,191 planks submit _? th? foreign relations issue leads jr popularity, with 125 votes. Next In r.'itx are Americanization, -with 110 Tftte,?, snrl labor ?Tid capital, with 103. Social legislation and suggestions for tue correction of Bolshevism are well forward in the field. The problem of army and navy ad .--oration ranks seventh in the in t>re*t of men Rnd women who are ?ring serious thought to the framing ?,- * platform of the people, by the people, for the people. Some writers imposing reforms in these depart r.nt? advocate the appointment of a former admiral for the po9t of Secre urr of the Navy and of a man of thor jjgh military training for that of Sec ?*tary of War. Rivision of the diplomatic servie* ilkl large in the popular mind, as jiaicBted in the discussion in this con Amer'can representatives abroad IN selected by some other test than ?pability and fitness, according to re ?Tpr? o' ri c? ' ; event,-:. The subjec! t f tariff baa been sub herged somewhat at this early stage the contest having; received only rty-two votes for place in a model - itform of ten plank?. A; the pr?s ? ? rate tariff declaration would be even po:-'u removed from tenth place. '.Vide scope of interest in The Trib '- Repul can Platform Contest is ??.?? -erf in p_r ever-increasing volume from ;-'; parts of the I nited 8*es. Army and Navy Inaura Peace? Disavowing attempted military ag? grandizement, wo place ourselves on record as unalterably in favor of a proper insurance of peace through an adequate? army and navy, not main? tained through irregular allotment of funds for material or through patriotism of an underpaid personnel in giving their services to the nation, but by a regular and adequate allot? ment of funds for maintenance of material, based on the value of the industry, commerce and peace in? sured, and an adequate compensation of personnel based on the value of services rendered in comparison with similar services performed for com? mercial and industrial organizations. "A." Budget System a Remedy Inasmuch as universal reduction of , expenditure is of first importance during this period of reconstruction, we advocate a revision of our tinan ' cial policy, with the immediate adop I tion of a national budget system. Our | present method has been tried and found wanting; the plan of budgetary legislation, adopted by Great Britain a- d Sv ?tzerland, has proved a distinct success. The one makes for waste and extravagance, the other for thrift and economy. The government can i not demand prudence and saving of its people while setting a different i standard for itself.?F. D Warren j Jr., Plafnfteld, N. J. Ten Rales of Government We will establish a budget system; submit the league of nations ques ! tion to referendum; repeal the es? pionage act and enforce laws pun j ishing revolutionists; support an ! American merchant marine and en ; courage young Americans to go to j sea; provide legislation to stabilize | and ?"nance the railroad:-: conduct j Americanization campaigns among ?he foreign element; guarantee a liv THE STORY OF REVILLON FURS t??Bi??mw*aa?~. A Winter Tour b> Dog Train These two dog teams are taking Mr. J. M. Revillon on a tour of in? spection of posts in northern Canada. Frequent trips to distant posts have made Revillon officers as familiar with the ways of the North as the traders and trappers who live there. In order to get the hest furs it is necessary for the head of the com? pany to keep in constant touch with tlie? sources of supply. vf&villon fr?res wmmtmm "? Fifth Avenue at 53rd Street gtajmtters^ii^ ^rCSiMttrti & ?*? 1 AND 3 WEST 37TH ST. ONE DOOB PROM FIFTH AVENUE 1 "COZY CORNERS'* An overstuffed Easy Chair and a Floor Lamp of pretty design set in the corner of the Living Room adds an atmosphere of comfort and attractiveness to any home, and can be obtained at McGIBBON during February at prices that are really moderate. OVERSTUFFED FURNITURE Easy Chairs?Wing Clhairs-?-Sofas (Chaise Longues?Slipper Chaire Made in our own Shop. LAMPS Polychrome Floor Lamps Polychrome Table Lamps?Boudoir Lamps Stow Hours: 9 A. M. to 5:30 P. M. [mt?&tib?n?it inr wage to government employees; establish a protective tariff und en? courage American industry; reduce the cost of living even if necessary to control big business; abolish child labor and guarantee sanitary and decent working conditions to labor. ? W. W. P., Hotel Monticcllo, City. Market for U. S. Bond* We. the Republican party, believe inasmuch as a largo majority of pa? triotic American peoples are owners of the Liberty bonds of the various issues, that direct Influence should be brought to bear upon the large financial institutions of tho United States to create a just and fair mar? ket for the bonds, so that this great mass of people may be able to real? ise :t full return of their savings, which they gladly loaned to their country in its hour of need, and who are now forced to sell because of the present excessively high living cost. L. D. Barnard. 7f> Fifty-second Street, Corona, Long Island, N. Y. Coercion Fatal to Democracy In n democracy the use of co? ercion by mobs, riots, strike?, force of arms or cunning legislation by political partisans, capital, labor, socialists, communists, I. W. W. or "Reds" is contrary to and subversive of democratic government. Their every temporary victory is a defeat of the government of, for and by the people, and dooms it ultimately to "perish froim the earth."--E. G. Holden, TjTon, N. C. Protective Policy Reaffirmed We lead all nations in mining, manufacturing and agriculture. We have the highest standard of living and wages anywhere on earth. Wc posses.-* a he nie market for the products of labor more valuable than the markets of the world outside. This position of world supremacy is the result mainly of wise Republi? can tariff legislation. The Repub lican party reaffirms its belief in the American policy of protection and would levy duties upon all for? eign products imported wl ich come into competition with the products of our own labor sufficient to equal? ize the difference in cost of produc? tion here and in foreign countries. W. C. F. "Watchful Waiting" Repudiated A weak and unfortunate neighbor rig state along our Southern bor ber is either unable or unvrilling to maintain order and give to Ami ri eai-i citizens sojourning: within her boundaries the same protection of life und property which we accord to Mexicans while resident m the United State?. We have also suf fered much loss and many indigni? ties by reason of raids across our border. We are weary of the policy of watchful waiting. We demard clear and definite measures looking to the establishment of safe ar.d peaceful relations with the Republii of Mexico.?W. P. C. Railroad Prosperity Essential We believe the prosperity of the railroads of the United States is essential to the adequate and con? tinued industrial development of this i ountry. Such prosperity is de? pendent on the granting of such rates as will enable the railroads 10 carry freight and passenger? <-?.fe!y and properly and leave to them a reasonable income above fl:;ed charges. The financial suc? cess of the steel, sugar and other "idustries under price control would ? truly a democracy as the United States. 'Were our Constitution unamendable we still would have slavery. Perhaps when we can look at the question through the perspective of lime .i other more recently passed amendments also will he viewed in the ight i- ?' posii ive reforms. ARETAS A. SAUNDERS. 21 Edlie Avenue, South Norwalk, Conn. Election of President By Popular Vote Urged Situation in 1916 Cited to Show Weakness of Electoral System To t: e Editor of The Tribune. S ;: During the last Presidential elect on, when for days it was uncer? tain which candidate had been se? lected by the Electoral College, the re suit hinged upon the vote in the State of California. This state had thirteen electoral votes, which, when finally de j cided for President Wilson, gave him the election by ::77 electoral votes to 264 for Mr, Hughes The vote cast by the people in California was 466,200 for President Wilson and 462,394 for Mr. Hughes. The total popular vote in the country was 0,129,269 lor Mr. Wilson and 8.547,328 for Mr. Hughes. a difference of ?t>l,D41 in favor of our Pr?s '??lent. Now. suppose a very possible thing had happened and California's popular vote had been reversed. Mr. Hughe? would have obtained 466,200 vote? and Mr. Wilson 462,394. The thirteen elec? toral votes would have gone to Mr. Hughes and he would have been elected President. Mr. Hughes. therefore, would have been elected with a, total popular vote of 8.651,134 and 267 elec? toral votes, while Mr. Wilson would have been defeated with 9.125,463 vote? and 264 electoral votes, in other words, even though Mr. Wilson would have had over half a million votes more than Mr. Hughes he would still have been defeated. Therefore. "The President of the United States shall be elected by a majoritv of the votes of the people." J. NADEL. No. 150 East Ninety-second Street. Citv. Admonition by Lincoln Urged As "Head?iner" in Platform To the Editor of The Tribune. Sir: As a constant reader of your 100 per cnt American paper, and as a Republican voter, I want to add my bit to the party platform. The plank that in my estimation should be taken as a headliner is a quotation from no less a person than Abraham Lincoln. "Let every American, every lover of liberty, every well-wisher of his pos? terity, swear by the blood of the Revo? lution never to violate in the least particular the laws of the country and never to tolerate their violation by others." The above quotation was taken from an editorial that appeared in your naper several days ago. H. W. Y. Conditions of the Platform Contest I HE Republican National Convention will meet in June to nominate candidates and draft a platform for the 19U0 campaign. What should its planks be? The Tribune believes you ought to have a chance to help write these planks. It offers you an opportunity to gel your ideas before the Republican leaders. The Tribune invitas you to submit your planks and to write letters about the planks proposed by other readers through its columns. For the best plank and letters 0f discussion The Tribune offers the following prtres: For the beat plank. For the second best plank For each of the eight next best planks For the best letter a dally pri?e of For the beet letter In the whole comp?tition $500.00 250.00 100.00 10.00 100X0 THE TRIBUNE will make up a platform of ten planks to be determined by your votes. Every plank submitted and every letter advocating a plank will be counted aa ? vote for th? issue it covers. Th? ten Issue? receiving the most votes will be the planks o' the final platform- The ten planks that best express the chosen issues will be selected by the judges for the prize awards. The Tribnoe believes in short platforms. It limits each plank to 100 words. In judging between two planks or letters of equal merit the shorter will be chosen. Every plank and letter must bear the name and address of the sender, although only initials or a nom de plume will be published if the writer so desires. The contest will close April 30, 1920. A mann8cript mailed be? fore midnight on that day at any place In the United States will bo eligible. Manuscripts will not be re? turned, even if stamps accom? pany them. The judges of the contest will be three of The Tribune's editors. They will award the prizes, basing their decisions on sound thinking and brevity, clearness and strength of statement. M To the FIditor of The Tribune. Sir: The Republican party ia peculiarly fitted to put forth in the new platform a single domi? nant message which shall do more to stabilize conditions than any? thing else. That message is Nationalism as opposed to Inter? nationalism. It shall plainly point out that it 1b a man's duty to be a citizen of the, United States, not a citizen of the world. The Repub? lican party is peculiarly fitted to say just that thing, because all 1 the great Republican leaders have : been contented to be simply good I Americans. There are some of us who still believe in America first. And to the charge that we are narrow and provincial and sectarian we answer that, believing in America first, we may better serve the interests of the entire world. Let no one forget that the United States has developed by herself. Hither chance, or fate, or God, has ' planned that our nation should spring from the purest blood, in the best soil and in the most healthful -climate. League of Nations That same power kepi America free from the crimes and lust . i and intrigues of mediaeval Kurope. As a result we grew up clean and | strong. It is but the blindest ideal | ism that asserts that now, not yet fully developed, we should sui j render our privilege to grow and ; function and create our own ideals I in our own way. The world needs the United , States as a distinct nation. When a world need has appeared the ? United States has met it only as I a nation could meet it that had i been brought up to respect its ] difference and distinction and ; unique position in world affairs. I The leaders of the Democratic 1 part'y have missed this from the ? first. They kept us back when the great war began from rendering i our service because they did not ! understand that our service was uniquely necessary, and now they desire through the unreserved league of nations to surrender i American individuality. Our only ! hope of serving the world lies in ' our remaining Americans. "America First" The Republican party must promise to be American first. It must produce a leader whose prime business will be to stay home, where Bolshevism and high prices and unstable business and loose and partisan thinking and backboneless internationalism de- ; mand the government's full atten- i tion. It must undo the interna? tionalists' work. Roosevelt would cry out for this thing. His spirit does cry for it. Lincoln in his own way would be explaining the divinity of Ameri? canism. His spirt has always ex? plained it. 'Che new platform of their party may be stated in eight words: "In everything, for the world's good, America first." JAMES LKE ELLEN WOOD. Schenectady, N. Y. Contentment Declared Best Cure for Unrest , Reforms in Food. Lodging and i Labor Condition* Solution of Alien Question To rhe Editor of The Tribune. Sir: 1 think America's policv to th* foreign born should be to mak'* them ? hsppv. The policy of the foreign borr j should be to demsnd happiness. I am I not using the word duty. To N'etv York City there come? i Editor's Note Some contestants aeem to be con? fusa,j about the rules of the plat? form contest, and think that an en tire platform must be presented \r. 100 words or less. The limitation appTes to single planks, and it is for planks, not platforms, that prir.es will be awarded. Some have sent in planks containing as many as 200 words. These planka and all others exceeding 100 words were, under the rules, refused considera? tion. As for letters, there is no limita? tion, but when two communications are of equal merit the shorter one will be given the preference. Russian Jew, say, in "the pursuit of happiness." He lands in an Allen Street tenement, perhaps on a level with the elevated road. He sleeps on the floor of a crowded room. He works in a basement, sweat shop. He eats ex? pensive, bad food. He thinks New York worse than Odessa, and he hateo O??"ssa. He want? to wreck the Amer i??an government. He talks, talks, talks' The political exiles to America of 1820, 18S0, 1849 and later dates cjitn to a plcasan* land flowing with ?milk and honey and they became grateful citizens. They pursued happiness and found it. Let the newcomer here have a reasor.ab1" chare for happiness. If he *nrl enough of his frienda a-sk foT concrete reform? in N'p-w York Clt> they car. get them. It would be gr?o