Albuquerque morning journal. [volume] (Albuquerque, N.M.) 1903-1926, 1917-01-05
California Statesman in Vale
dictory Speech Denounces
President for USurpation of
DiCtatoriaI Power,
BEM0ANS DECADENCE
OF AMERICAN SOCIETY
New Progressive Political Party
Is Advocated as Hope of
Salvation of Country on
Road to Ruin.
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Washington, Jan. 4.--With an ar
raignment of President Wilson's ad-
ministration and of what he called
decadence in American society and
government, Senator Works of Cali
fornia, who retires March 4, began a
valedictory speech in the senate to-
day He deplored a tendency toward
centralized, unchecked and unlimited"
power on the part of the president, de-
nounced profligaey of wealth, recon-
mended that the idle rich be compell-
ed by law to work, and urged forma-
ton of new progressive political
party known as the liberty party"
Recess for the night interrupted the
speech after two hours, and the sena-
tor will conclude tomorrow.
President Is Dictator.
Senator Works declared usurpation
of power by the president had amount
ed practically to dictatorship" Re-
ferring to executive pressure on legis-
lation, he said:
"If this kind of executive coercion
is persisted in and submitted to by
congress. then our government is no
longer government of the people. 1t
is not democracy 1t is not re-
public. 1t is a despotism worse than
any known monarchy.
He reviewed the Wilson admins
tration in great detail In urging re-
peal OF the Panama free tolls clause,
he said the president had descended
- H. Is.l.t
and the submission of congress, he
described as humiliating spectacle"
Efforts to force the shipping bill, he
said, were Shameful" adding that
the reserve act was passed by "pres-
Dental lobbying for political reasons,
the president being a political candi-
date
Deplores Adamson Act.
The presidents insstence on pas
sage of the Adamson act Senator
Works declared, was "deplorable,"
while the recent confirmation of a
supreme court justice furnished a
Shocking example of unwarranted in
fluence."
"The course of the president in
of arrogant and arbitrary, if not un-
lawful, exercise of power. Twice has
the president appointed commission
ers without lawful authority, to ne
gotiate with commissioners appointed
by CarranZa to settle our relations
with Mexico"
The senator also denounced the
presidents appointment of personal
representatives in Mexico and said
to war with Mexico without the sane
tion of congress.
FayOrs Single Term.
Advocating a single presidential
term, Senator Works said the idea of
a president being the leader of a po-
litical party was obnoxious and at
tackled President Wilson for alleged
reputation of the single term plank
of the Baltimore platform. He said
the present patronage system was de
grading, deplorable and dangerous"
Lavish use of campaign funds and
pork barreP' legislation also were
scored by the California senator. who
gave in detail appropriation records
of the democratic administration. He
said there had been an increase of
militaristic spirit because the public
mind had been shrewdly perverted.
largely by those having selfish in
terests.
A new alignment of political parties
suggested by Senator Works to meet
these evils would contemplate a union
of progressives of all kinds under the
name of the "liberty party" The
progressive party, he said, had been
deserted by its leaders in it's hour of
need, the republican party had become
disorganized, and the dem
ocratic party was as hopelessly divid-
ed between reactionaries and progress
sives.