Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1920-11-04
BRYAN LAUNCHES
BITTER ASSAULT
ON NTHEPRES|DENT
Declares Dictatorial Atti-
tude of Executive Re-
spOnsible for Defeat.
SHOULD HAVE COMPROMISED
WITH SENATE ON LEAGUE
Alleges Wilson Attempted to
Drive Out of Public Life
Those He Couldn't Control.
tBy Universal Service. J

LINCOLN. NEB.. Nov. s.-william
Jennings Bryan tonight said:
while the majorities are larger
than even the Republican leaders cx-
pected. a Democratic defeat was in
evitable and the tblame is easily.
placed. The President laid the foun-
dntions for the disaster and Governor
Cox completed the structure.
"The President attempted to drive
ont OF public life every Democrat who
dared to differ from him, even in min
ute 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 he asked for Congress that
would support his personal leadership
and then. though knowing fun well
that the majority IN the nation was
against him, he refused to deal with
the Senate as n coordinate branch
OF the government.
Insisted on Debating Terms.
Instead of recognizing that the
constitutional provision requiring n
two-tairds majority for ratification
compelled compxomise.-Sh --inslstcd
upon debating tho terms upon which
ratification could be had. and then.
on the 10th OF March. 5tubbornly re-
jected the ratification with rcserva-
tions, even when Senator Harding
and some thirty-fivc other Rcpubli-
cana were willing to accept the
league as ha wrote 1t, with the few
oh Ok, ana tctn n
by thus preventing ratification.
the President assumed responsibility
for the nations failure to enter the
league and thrust the league into
the campaign rs n partisan issue. Tho
people. confronted with the choice
between presidential infallibility and
respect for the opinion of the ma
jority of the Senate, naturally chose
the latter, and the Democratic party.
by endorsing the Presidents position,
invited the defeat that has ovcrtaken
it.
Cox AgGrnvates Situation.
Governor Cox. instead Of repair
ing the injury done by tho President.
aggravated the situation by the man
ner In which he avoided domestic is-
of the Republican party on the league
issue. which he declared to be para
mount. He lodged the liquor ques-
tion. seeking to create in the West
the impression that he favored pro-
hibition, while attempting to hold the
wet vote OF the East by his wet rec
ord. He sought to cOnciliaie Wall
Street by advocating the repeal OF
the excess profits tax. while he ap-
pealed to the West against the re-
actionarics. His attempts to put the
Democratic party in the attitude OF
being the sole guardian OF peace were
ridiculous.
The American people want the
government to play its part in aboli-
tion of war. but they are Indifferent
as to whether we are part of Il league
or part of an association of nations.
Peace by Friendship.
Peace by terrorism has been proven
impossible. Peace based upon friend
ship and cooperation will be tried
providing the nations OF Europe arc
willing to lay aside their land grab
bing schemes and join together on
the basis of good will. The country
will expect Mr.. Harding to carry out
his pledge to advance the cause OF
world peace, and there is no reason
to doubt that he Will do SO. In the
meantime, the progressive forces Of
the nation will organize to compel
Congress and the President to pro-
vide the Legislative means by which
the masses can protect themselves
from the greed of tho eXploiters."