New-York tribune., 1919-11-23
Extravaganza and Incompe-
tence Marks Course of
Administration, President
of Columbia Declares
Outlines Issues for 1920
Attacks Foreign and Indus
trial Policies and Methods
Used at the Peace Farley

PHILADELPHIA, Nov. 22.-Speak
ing before the Union League here
tonight on "The Republican Party:
Its Presen. Duty and Opportunity"
DR.. Nicholas Murray Butler, president
of Columbia University, declared the
prime issue of 1920 would be Ameri-
canism "And once the American
people understand that ISSUE" he said,
"they will rise in their might to over
whelm the enemies of America"
Attacking the Democratic Admins
tration, he charged that it had asso-
ciated closely with men who would be
delighted to see the overthrow of the
American form of government, and in
suggesting the duty of the Republican
party he said:
Upon it rests the responsibility of
bringing to an end the veritable orgy
of waste, extravaganza and admins
trativc incompetence that has marked
the course of this Administration"
In the course of his criticism of the
Wilson Administration DR.. Butler en-
phasized what he termed "the incessant
harping upon a distinction between
people and their government" declar
ing il to pe San insidious suggestion
that has helped to spread the seeds of
disorder throughout the world"
The Administration also was charged
with having permitted the industrial
problem to take such form "as d-
rectly menaces our political institu
tions."
Dl. Butler insisted that the indus
trial problem "must be met and solved
on American lines and in accordance
with American principles of govern
ment and of social organization, and
not by the violent overthrow or violent
modification of our government and
our social order"
DR.. Butler proposed national indus
trial relations commission to represent
only the public. before which either
disputant or the Attorney General of
the United States could bring any in
dustrial conflict He did not suggest
anything further than that the COM
mission should recommend action, say
ing public opinion may be trusted to
bring about compliance with the rec
ommer dation and findings of such a
comm ission"
Referring to the league of nations,
Or. Butler proceeded:
Americans have long urged and be-
yond question would gladly welcome
true society of nations and not any at
tempted international substitute for
independent and self-governng CO.
operating peoples" He said that first,
however. the American people must
set their own house in order" but
added they would tolerate no super
government superior to the Constitu-
ton.
Trified With Great Issue
I'VE are called upon both to explain
democracy and to fight for democracy
We are called upon to make it clear
that class divisions, class struggles.
class control are not only undemocratic,
but tl-democratic, and that the only
end for which they can possibly achieve
is anarchy and economic stagnation.
'The present Democratic admnistra-
tion has trfed with this great issue
1t has given posts of honor and au-
thority to those who hold and teach
doctrines in fiat antagonism to the
principles on which our government
rests and has even commissioned men
OF TINS type to carry on more or less
authoritative negotiations with revo-
lutionaries in other lands.
DR.. Butler then proceeded to a dis
cusslon of the international problem
and the American foreign policy, say
ing:
"The Republican party, if given con-
ttrol of both the executive and the
Legislative departments cf the Govern
ment at the elections of 1920, will find
itself confronted by an international
problem of grave difficulty and of high
est Importance.
at is not pleasant>thng to discuss
international policies from the stand
point of party principle and party
responsibility; for it is most desir-
able that in its international relations
the nation should think and act as a