New-York tribune., 1919-03-04
Sherman Calls
Wilson Usurper
And Dictator
Illinois Senator Quotes
Shakespeare i'm Attack ON
President and League Pact
Wants Spy Act Repealed
McCumbcr Supports Paris
Covenant, but Stresses
Necessity of Amendments
NeW York Tribune
UeL,i,ptoH R,,rrr,,

Mem York Tribune
washington Bure1u
WASHINGTON. March 3. - "1ndeed
shall we not ask, with the dramatist
now in the names Of all the GODS q,
once, upon what meat does this oul
Cesar feet that he is grown so great @
In this language Senator Lawrence
Y. Sherman. of Illinois, concluded in
the Senate this afternoon bitter at
tack on President Wilson and the pro
posed constitution Of the league OF
nations.
"lf the power is not found IN our
Federal Constitution to erect over us
aud our government dominant rule Of
assembled nations to be implied from
the sWofd,' he cried his high ptehed
voice carrying Far out into tho eorfi
do,H leading from the Senate chamber,
"the Preeidents acts are usurpat ion,
IT it depend alone upon his will as
commander in chief, it is revolution,
lie Is usurper in one case and die
tator in the other"
McCumher Urges Amendments
The general deficiency bill, with its
appropriations tsss,lng approximately
$3.50 100000, was before the Senate as
the only one of the larger appropria-
tion bills to be saved from the wreck
age.
Immediately following Senator Sher-
man Senator McCumber, of North Da-
kota, delivered the first speech that
has yet been made on the Republican
side OF the Senate in support of the
league constitution. Even he, however,
urged the advisability of amendments
that would make more certain the re-
serve powers retained to the signatory
nations.
Without specifically indorsing the
league, James r. ,Iann, Republican
leader, censured the Republicans for
their criticism of the President and
of any plan in which the United States
WAS involved to prevent future wars.
He said the war would have been
fought in vain if something were not
done to prevent future conflicts. 81
thing it essential" he said, chat some
thing shall come out Of the war which
may tend to prevent future wars, and
not merely leave us, as n result Of the
war, almost hopclcssly in debt"
Representative La Guardia, of New
York. in tho House tonight, urged that
the league Of nations plan be sup
ported.
Charges Political Exploitation
Senator Sherman compared the atti-
tudc of the President at this time with
his kept us out of war" campaign
before the 1916 elections, and directly
charged that he was seeking political
capital out Of his advocacy of the
league of nations.
ole adroitly mandnuvrcs himself
into the spotlight as the fountain of
peace perpetual and the guardian Of
mankind" he drawlcG. CAS- he kept us
servo the issues of 1920, and keep us
out of impending war conjurcd up to
serve the issues of 1920 and keep US
at peace forever if we but accept him
again. With him as the drum major of
civilization eternal peace, betting the
earth and brooding like a gentle spirit
DER still and crcdulous world, pro-
claims the millennium is here
Declaring that the President had re
ccived no mandate from the American
tct vi bp bO Ian
pursued at Parts, Senator Sherman
protested strongly against the sug-
gestion that the President had the
power to bind the United States to
the sacrifices of oyereignty which, he
said, were involved in the league Of
nations compact
Wants Espionage Act Repealed
He challenged the President to risk
submitting the proposal to the APP
rrovnl of the American people, and he
demanded that the Administration con-
sent to an immediate repeal of the
espionage act, declaring that at pres-
cnt neither the press nor the people
were free to discues the facts.
f tho President In not political
and governmental coward" no shouted,
"hc VIII comply with this demand"
"llo dare not repeal this law and
'let the people know tho truth" In
tefjeeted Senator France. Of Mary.
land, "fhe majority would not even
lot THIS matter come to vote before
thIa body"
"rhat Is true" agreed Senator Sher-
man. "lf had had my way, the legs-
latlve situation would have been so
handled on this side of the chamber
ns to have compelled an extra session
at once or have permitted the gov
crnment to starve And | want to say
that if cannot find in my own party
support for this demand for free
discussion, ! shall go elsewhere"