South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1920-06-22
MANAGER OF FIRST
WILSON CAMPAIGN
OUT ON WAR PATH
Peeved Because He Could Not
Dictate TO President He
Denies Leadership.

CHICAGO, June 21.-William +.
McCOmbs, chairman of the demo-
cratic national committee from 1912
10 1916, manager of PreS't Wilson's
1912 campaign, issued a statement
here Monday night before leaving
for San Francisco. attacking what
he characterized as the presidents
autocratic assumption OF authority.
McCombs has long been peeved at
Pres't Wilson for not according him
a place in his first cabinet.
Pres't Wilson. he said, has no
more right 20 call himself leader or
the democratic party, a concep-
ton heretofore never entertained by
any American" than has Chief Jus
tice White, former Speaker Champ
Clark or Vice Pres't Thomas r.
Marshall. McCombs claimed after
the election in 1912 that the party
leadership belonged 10 himself as
chairman of tho democratic nation
al committee, and that he should
dictate appointments.
Mr.. McCombs announced that ar
rangements had been made to OBJ
tain for him a seat in the New York
delegation. # he decides TO take the
floor at San Francisco. The New
York delegation, he predicted. will
iii wv AAS euppOAL ~ NION- SdllAES W
Cox, OF Ohio, after casting a compli
mentary vote for Gov. Smith. He
is said to have worked secretly for
Hughes in 1916.
Says No Real Pledge.
His statement. in part. follows;
They tell me that America has
pledged its word to Europe and that
this word must be redeemed in the
process of national campaign. In
my belief. America has pledged it
self 70 nothing. One individual.
speaking as such, permitted Europe
10 believe that he spoke for a ma
ton, for in the last analysis he was
nothing more than self-appointed
emissary.
Nevertheless. America is asked
abroad, a signature which apparent
ly was accepted in good faith by all
the European peoples as absolute.
The president negotiales
treaty, but the senate may or may
not concur by twO-thirds majority
in this particular instance there
has been no concurrence.
Against Wilson League.
"Other nations may want a
League of Nations and it may be
that we do. but we do not want to
commit ourselves TO the League Of
Nations as il was brought back
from Paris. 1t is an international
issue. but it is a high debatable
question as TO what importance il
should have in national cam
paign. Ultimately. It is a question
for the president and the senate to
settle"
The statement then declares for
1# F,f1
tion of railway and internal water
ways transI ortation, and for solU-
tion OF the high cost Of living,
wholly apart from any interna-
tional affiliations"
The statement continues.
When the great war broke out
in 1914. naturally America was
more or less daZed and was willing
to accept any kind OF leadership
which might draw 81 through pos
slble difficulty In this moment
the chief executive again repeated
that he was the leader of his party
a conception heretofore never enter
tanned by any American As well
might the chief justice Of the
United States supreme court. Mr..
White. a democrat had made the
same statement So might have
the speaker or the mouse, Cndmp
Clark: so might the ce-president
Mr.. Marshall But America was
concerned with great issues and
paid no attention 20 what appeared
TO be a detail.
Bellows About AutOCracy
1T was in such manner that for
the first time in the history OF this
/ country autocracy came into being
II was an autOcracy which was
( questioned but which was accepted
| by virtue OF necessity But this
UNHAPPY hour has passed and az
I San Francisco we again return 10
/ true democracy. regardless Of place
! holders and pOlitical-hunters
I'VE have finished with the fine
! CONTINUED on PAGE FOUR)