New-York tribune., 1919-03-10
Hays, Democrat, of
Utah, Attacks Clark
For League Policy
Representative Says Minority
Leader i'm House Should
Be in Sympathy With
Plans of the President
Ne1o York Tribune
IV1ShLr atom B1irenu

Wdshlngt0 Bureau
WASHINGTON, \, March 9.-Represent-
atlves James II. Mays, of Utah, membe r
of the Democratic Reorganization Ex-
ecutive Committee, issued statement
to-day, charging Speaker Champ Clark
with having said: "Wilsons league of
nations has as much chance Of being
ratified as you have of being Pope Of
Rome. This language. it is declared,
was used bv the Speaker in addressing
a group of Democratic Representatives
Speaker Clark is not in Washington
and no reply from him 10 the charges
was available. Mrs. Clark, in reply
to question from The Tribune, said :
"lf the boss ever said anything like
that he never said it to me. don't
believe he said it,"
Mr. Mays asserts the Democrats in
the House cannot afford by their votes
to approve sarcastic antagonism to the
league of natlons." and predicts that
the people Will rebuke their servants
who go counter TO the earnest determi-
nation Of the President to crystalline
the hopes and desires of the civilized
1t is the purpose of the reorganizers
to elect a steering committee in svm-
pathy with the President and which.
IN turn, will select minority leader Of
like views. Speaker Clark's attitude.
1t is declared. has made it impossible
for friends of the Administration to
support him
Says Utah Approves League
Mr. Mayss statement, in part. fol-
This is no time to put Jealous en-
emles or soreheads in charge of the
party leadership. We will have enough
Of that on the other side. We want a
leader who will not inwardly rejoice at
the abuse of the President.
Il was elected upon the declaration
that | would sustain the Presidents; as
slst him rather than hinder by earn
ing criticism. have heard from my
people. In mass meetings and the
State Legislature the people and their
representatives have overwhelmingly
voted their approval Of the Presidents
efforts to establish permanent peace.
The league of nations idea has been
accepted by the Republican leaders as
Join them. Many Republicans and in
dependents VIII support the President.
The people viii approve
I'VE certainly do not want antag-
onistlc leaders. |. personally heard
Speaker Clark, addressing a group of
Democrats, say: Wilson'S league of
nations has as much chance of being
ratified as you have of being Pope
Of Rome Then he explained that he
himself had the only plan of disarma-
mert, and that was upon a percentage
basis.
Slight on Conscripts Quoted
The President is being BON mbarded
rom the front and from ambush. We
must not install and support leaders
who viii shoot from the rear. Our
friends in soldly Democratic districts
should not impose unnecessary bur
dens upon Democratic brothers of the
North and West. We cannot afford
TO indorse the statement deliberately
made by the Speaker and never re
tracted that there is precious little
difference between a conscript and a
convict That statement. although not
representing the view of the Demo
cratic majority in the House, nine
tenths of whom voted for war and
conScrlption, was spread broadcast bv
our opponents in the fall campaign
and If not repudiated by the party
would be thrust into the faces Of
100000 of our soldiers and their
friends
I'VE cannot afford by our votes to
approve sarcastic antagonism to the
league of nations Our people are
heartsick and weary of war and will
rebuke their servants who 20 counter
to the earnest determination of the
President to crystalline the hopes and
desires of the civilized world into a
living covenant of peace"