South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1919-05-23
WATSON WOULD
'EMANCIPATE"
EPUBLICANS
Wants Congress to Repeal
All Powers Granted to
PreS't Wilson.
BY JOHN J. CARSON


News-Times Washington Correspondent
NyA.SHINGTON, May 23.-oenator
James r. Watson Of Indiana says
the emancipation OF the Republican
party" Is AT hand This announce
ment he made 20 his friends in the
senate shortly after the signing Of
the armistice and he has stressed
4 constantly within the last few
days. And as q 1berator in so far
as political activities are concerned.
Sen. Watson intends 10 become one
OF the potential figures in this ses-
zion OF congress.
Watson wants congress at once 20
enact legislation resembling all the
war powers granted TO the president.
This would mean that Immediately
the great organizations such as the
council OF defense and the food and
fuel administrations and the author
ity OF the president over many mill
tary activities and over industrial
activities closely associated with the
prosecution OF the war. would bbe
at an end.
II has been the view OF the India
ma senator at all times that too
much power was granted the presi-
dent The fact that the president
was willing TO accept the response
bility which went with this power
and that through the granting Of
these powers and the fulhllment Of
this trust. a world war was brought
to a successful conclusion at least
two years before Sen. Watson
thought IL would end, has meant
nothing to Watson.
The fact that the families Of sol
diers were protected from the pos
sibility of food and fuel profiteer-
ing. that they were assured OF as
sistance from the government. that
through this legislation the morale
OF the soldiers was maintained to
victory pitch. has had equally little
significance TO him. IL was "pater-
nalism" and always and under all
conditions. paternaIism is a serious
crime in the view Of some senator's
Wanted Hands Kept on.
1t must be recalled that Just re-
Gently, a distributor of foodstuffs
In Indiana advised his friends in
Washington that eff the government
only would take its hands off and
permit us to go TO IL without re-
strictions, in a few years we would
not have to Worry" il is not known
that Senator Watson has learned Of
this statement or Of any others SINH
lar TO IT.
With thirteen members in the
touse and two in the senate. a solid
republican delegation. the state in
control Of the party and a wonder
full machine builder at the head Of
the state administration in Gov.
Goodrich. opportunity Is smiling up
on the party in Indiana as il never
has before. But destructive polit-
ca practices played only for part
isan political advantage are not big
politics and it IS difficulty to believe
that Sen. Watson will continue
playing the game
Sen. New and Watson will have q
prominent part In the work Of this
congress. Though not recognized as
a statesman OF great ability. New is
regarded as a fine man for commit
tee work in investigation where there
IS a possibility of obtaining infOrma
ton which might be of great politi-
cal advantage. casual reading Of
News work in the military affairs
committee in the last session will
show how closely he devoted him
self TO such work. Now. as the head
OF the senate patronage commit =.
New will have an opportunity 20
place many deserving Indiana repub-
leans and thus assist in adding an
extension 10 the political machine
built up within the state by Gov.
Goodrich.
New Bitter Partisan
New IS regarded by his associates
as a bitter partisan who believes alb
sOlutely in the spoils system. and
is placed in position TO carry out
these theories.
Watson is described by his associ-