The Hartford republican., 1920-11-12
BRYAN SAYS WILSON
RULE CAUSED DEFEAT
Commoner Ayers President Laid
Foundation For Disaster That
Cox Completed

the Universal Service with the fol-
lowing Interview.
while tho majorltics are larger
than even the Republican leaders ex-
pected, a Democratic defeat was in
ovita BILE and the blanc is easily plac-
cd The President laid the founda-
tons for 'hs disaster and Governor
Cox completed the structure.
"The President attempted to drive
out of public life every Democrat
who dared to differ from him even
in minute details, while he made no
effort to strengthen the Democrats
who made him the keeper of their
conscience.
"He alienated all Republican sup
port and invited partisan opposition
by his appeal just before the election
of 1918 for a Congress that would
support his personal leadership and
then, knowing full we'll that the
majority in the nation was against
him, he refused to deal with the
Senate as a coordinate branch of the
government.
Instead of recognizing that the
constitutional provision requiring a
two-thirds majority for ratification
compelled compromise, he insisted
upon debating the terms upon whicL
ratification could be had and then.
on the 18th of March, stubbornly re-
jected ratification with reservations
even when Senator Harding and some
thirty-five other Republicans were
willing to accept the league as he
wrote it with the few changes upon
which they insisted.
'By thus preventing ratification,
the President assumed responsible
ty for the nations failure to enter
the League and thrust the league into
the campaign as a partisan issue.
The people, confronted with the !
choice between the presidential in
fallibility and respect of the opinion |
of the majority of the Senate natural |
ly chose the latter. The Democratic |
party, by indorsing the Presidents |
position, invited the defeat that has
overtaken it.
Governor Cox, instead of repair
ing the injury done by the President.
aggravated the situation by the man
ner in which he avoided domestic is
sues and misrepresented the position
of the Republican party on the league
issue, which he declared to be para
mount. He lodged the liquor ques-
tion, seeking to create the impression
in the West that he favored prohi-
bition, while attempting to hold the
wet vote of the East by his wet re-
cord.
HE sought to conciliate Wall
street by ADVOCATING the repeal of
the excess profits tax, while he ap- n
pealed to the West against the reac-
tionaries.l His attempt to put the
Democratic party in the attitude of
being the solemn guardian of peace
was ridiculous and his assaults upon
such well-known advocates OF peace
as ex-President Taft and Herbert
Hoover were disgraceful.
"The American people want the
government to play its part in the
abolition of war, but they are indif-
ferent as to whether we are part of
a league or part of an association of
nations. There is nothing in name,
but everything in a sentiment. The
real issue presented by the Demo-
cratic party was not whether we
should cooperate with other nations
in peace, but whether we
should assume moral obligation
which had no weight except as it
the right of Congress to
act independently when the time ar
rived for action. The nation will do
It's part in aiding to prevent war, but
It will not surrender into the keep
ing of any foreign group the right tC
determine when we shall declare
war.
Now that our participation will
rest upon the will of Congress and
lot upon the arbitrary opinion of a
single man, we may expect that dis
armament will be made one of the
upon which we attempt to
ldvise.
Peace by terrorism has been ,
proven impossible; peace based upon
friendship and cooperation will be
ried, provided the nations of Europe
IRE willing to lay aside their land
grabbing schemes and join together
IN the basis of goodwill. The coun-
ry will expect Mr.. Harding to carry
'ut his pledge to advance the cause
# world peace and there is no rea-
on to doubt that he will do So In
he meantime the progressive forces