The Washington herald., 1917-06-16
ATTACKS
WILSOHSPOWER
Grave Mistake to Class Ex-
ecutive with Washington
and Lincoln, SenatorSays.

President Wilson was the subject
Of determined criticism in the Senate
yesterday. Senator Lodge of Mas
sachusetts assailed the dictatorial
powers allowed the Chief Executive
under the preferential routing bill
Reed. Of Missouri. was another who
questioned the right Of Mr.. Wilson to
seek so much power. But Newlands,
OF Nevada, defended the President.
Il have not charged nor insinuated
that u We grant these powers to the
President, he Is going to set up a
deSpotism," said Reed. But you can
not grant the powers bestowed in this
bill without infringing the constitu-
tional liberties Of the people, disrupt
ting the. business Of the country, and
without setting up petty deSpots and
Idictators in the persons OF men that
will be appointed. and this Is undemo-
cratic and Infamous"
II apprehend the Senator thinks
granting these powers will weaken
democracy" answered Newlands.
But 1 say granting the powers will
save democracy. II we have got to
Prussianizs America in order to beat
Prussia, am willing to do II"
Il thought so!" snapped Reed.
In his speech, Lodge inferred that
It was much OF a mistake to compare
Mr.. Wilson with Washington and
Lincoln.
"of late among enthusiasts, who in
my Judgment confuse the President
with the country. a very fayorite
method of eulogy is to put him along
side OF Washington and Lincoln" said
Lodge. 'I call attention to Mr.. Lin
coins Pittsburgh speech Of 1851.
Standing on the edge Of war that
brought this country within reason
able range of destruction, he said:
by the Constitution, the executive
may recommend measures which he
may think proper, and he may veto
those he thinks improper; and 1t Is
supposed he may add to these certain
indirect influences to affect the ac-
tion strongly inclines me against the
very free use Of any Of these means
by the executive to control the legis-
lation Of the country. As a rule,
think II better that COngress should
originate as well as perfect its meas
Ures without external bias"
Senator Lodge paused in his read
ing. That sounds very simple in
these days" he said.
And Old-fashioned," added Sena-
Indeed, quite old-fashioned," con-
tinued Lodge. with four years Of
desperate war on his hands, do not
recall that Mr.. Lincoln asked for a
press censorship. 1 do not recall that
Mr.. Lincoln came to Congress for
He was very severely criticised by
tlIe press which he did not attempt
TO muzzle; he was criticized for sus-
pending the ha abeas corpus act. But
], at least, have stumbled on no traces
Of his coming here to Congress per
sonally and trying to get unreason-
able powers. Yet somehow or other,
he managed to carry on a four-year's S
war and bring it to success"
1t is a physical inpoSsibility. con-
tended Senator Lodge, for the President
10 carry out the various authorities
conferred upon him Of late. He must
necessarily delegate this authority to
some person the country perhaps
never heard of"
Mr.. NewIands, a staunch champion
of the President, insisted vigorously
that It was necessary to give the Pres
idsnt authority TO conduct the war
with a free hand" He was anxious
for Congress to adjourn ard leave Mr..
Wilson in supreme command.