New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1917-05-17
watson Asserts
lis. Is Being Made
One.Man Power
c.,sres. Giving Wilson
Mare Strength Than 1t
ia. Itself, Says Senator
Calls Censors Illegal
,E.nan Declares President
wilson Named Board With
out Authority of Law

Congress is proposing to confer on
President Wilson more authority than
...,sses and is aiming to centralize
.o,duet Of the war on IAN auto
81, one.man power" Senator James
watson. Of Indiana. declared last
:. !, = speech st the annual ban
-. in the waldorf-AstOria Of the
y,,iOnsl Association Of Manufacturers
2. denounced an absolute press cen
.-,,;n As 'one Of the most efficient
.,.-.,ts Of sutocracy and one Of the
-. e.sps toward despotic power" lie
,.,,sed the giving Of price-hNing
.,v,r 70 the President as threatening
Z, ,opp,ry's industries. and referred
-. var revenue bill now pending as
-. killing Of the goose that laid the
rsldsn egg
While be voted for war and conscrip-
-. The Senator said, he was mot IN
,.,o, Of Congress abdicating its
.,s.." but believed that the legisla-
=. branch Of the government should
!, coordinate and not subordinate to
IN Executive branch.
Only in one instance was he in favor
q, ,ow giving the government absolute
,,rsr and that was IN the building OF
sips.
gs cited figures to show that Ger
-, submarines are sinking ships
,,,,s, than the Allies can build them.
Must q democracy be converted into
8, .utocrsey in order TO preserve its
Fss,7 demanded Senator Watson. III
90 then democracy falls when 1t
should be triumphant
Congress has before it many pro-
,ssls TO confer upon the President all
he authority 10 has, yea. more than 1t
lsgi,imately possesses; 70 bestow upon
I'm greater authority than II has the
rirbt 20 bestow or than he has the
nsht 10 receive under our Constitution.
And this is all done under the assump-
loon that one-man power Is indls-
pt,able Il successful war is 10 be
vszsd. that q democracy is incapable
q complete self-defence and that the
Constitution can and must be set aside
IN case Of war. ] deny all those prop
ostions ! deny that selhshness so
rules the American heart that u is IN
capable Of great sacrifice.
Ian heartily in favor of comforting
gpon the President all the authority
he needs 10 conduct the present war,
bsi ar not in favor Of setting aside
he Constitution of the United States,
aG Of Congress abandonig its duties or
a5iiesting its functions. While we are
Flrriag against autocracy on the other
de Of the sea, let us not in our zeal
~ % one in our own land. While we
re eontending for democracy in other
rsris Of the world, let us not in our
tTor abandon the one in which we
I've.
u an unalterably opposed to any
'orn, feature or phase of press censor
nip in our land. The President has
already. without authority Of law or
anction Of Congress. appointed
Board Of Censorship. Of which the Sec
-,iary of War and the Secretary Of the
Navy are both members.
IF our future campaigns fail, if
Esakness or incompetency is any
Fhere fatally displayed, if peculation
q corruption shall anywhere creep in,
g will necessarily be in one or the
Gher Of these departments. ] cast no
uperslon upon either the character or
ne capacity Of either Of these officials
shen say that they would be the last
70 permit criticism Of their depart
uents.
Congress Also Attacked
Closing sessions Of the manufactur-
W iweniy-second annual convention
yesterday were marked by attacks on
Congress.
"erson, Of Baltimore. "the American
lsople can always depend upon Con-
Nsss to do the wrong thing. It's be-
ause you business men care little who
,'present you. Out Of eight represen-
a'res from Maryland credit only one
having common sense. One is the
.''nsnd Of a rich woman who bought
.s seat"
WI. kehoe. banker Of Washington,
'nped 20 his feet els 10 in order for
rs gentleman 20 abuse Congress and