Evening Republican, Volume 21, Number 45, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 2 March 1918 — HAYS BRINGS HARMONY TO REPUBLICAN RANKS [ARTICLE]

HAYS BRINGS HARMONY TO REPUBLICAN RANKS

. ■ r 1 — „ New York, March I.—“ That Chairman Hays (Will H. Hays, Republican national chairman) is succeeding in his attempt to bring complete harmony to Republican ranks is indicated by reports from Washington,” is the statement published in the New York Sun today. “His enthusiasm, his sincerity and his manifest determination to reconcile all factions have caused Republicans to foresee a new career for the party. “Though no party issues have been definitely decided on yet, it is clear from Mr.’Hays’s attitude that all issues will be formulated with first thought to the successful prosecution of the war.

“The chairman’s strong views on the war have made a deep impression on those with whom he has talked. He favors the dismissal of all pacifists from the Republican ranks. “It is likely that Mr. Hays will make Washington his general headquarters, and spend a great part of time there.”

A Washington dispatch to the Sun today says: “Will H. Hays, Indiana’s ‘little giant’ in politics, selected to manage the affairs of the Republican party at this critical time in the history of the nation, after three days spent conferring with Republicans here, has returned to New York. Mr. Hays goes back to New York and Indiana leaving an encouraged lot of ,Republicans in the national capital who after seeing him believe that his leadership is to invigorate the party. '“Mr. Hays seemed something like an innovation in political leaders to the old war horses of the party whom he met here in his three days’ visit. Exceedingly youthful in appearance, he impressed all of them with his earnestness and sincerity. The upshot of the conferences he has held was described by several Republican statesmen as having put ‘pep’ into Republicans of all shades and stripes. “Not even Color'd Roosevelt’s visit has done so muffi in a sense to bring those of the old and new wings of the party together Mr. days took particular pains to seek out personally Republicans representing all the different shades of thought and feeling, learn their views and put them all down carefully in his note book. He is for pleasing every one of them if he can and he believes he can do it.

“What impressed greatly the senators and representatives with whom Mr. Hays talked was the strong views he holds regarding the position the party should take respecting the war. Mr. Hays, can make a speech on the war at any time that is a hummer, full of fire and feeling and of the most intense loyalty. The war has filled this young Hoosier with,., a burning indignation. “He believes that ‘win the war now’ should be the keynote of the party in the next campaign. He -would have the party eject every pacifist from its ranks. He would have the party demand in every state platform that the war be pressed to a victorious finish.

“The party issues have yet to be definitely shaped, -but if Mr. Hays has his way these issues will be based on this general idea. Another cardinal feature of Mr. Hays’s platform of party management, as he told Republicans here, is the ‘open door.’ He would have the fullest and freest publicity given to the party’s activities.

“ ‘The success of the party,’ he told Republican senators, ‘in the final analysis depends upon public opinion. Its purposes, its activity and its achievements must be open to all. This applies to the management of its affairs, about which the public should be cognizant at al times.’ “Mjr. Hays plans to make Washington the party headquarters. He is in favor of having most of the party conferences here instead of New York or Chicago. The headquarters here will be enlarged an< its activities increased. Mr. Hays himself will spend a good part of his time here.”