The Hartford republican., 1920-06-25
M'C0MBS ASSAILS
WILSON AUTOCRACY
President Assumes Unwar-
ranted Authority, Ex-
Chairman Says

McComDs' chairman of the Democrat
ic Nationsl Committee from 1912 to
1915 and manager of President Will
sons 1912 campaign, issued state
ment here tonight before leaving for
San Francisco attacking what he
characterized as the Presidents au-
tocratic assumption of authority.
President Wilson, he said, has no
more right to call himselaA leader of
the Democratic party, "a conception
heretofore never entertained by any
American" than has Chief Justice
White, former Speaker Champ Clark
or Vice President Thomas r. Mar
shall.
MIR. McCombs announced that ar
rangements had been made " obtain
| for him seat in the New York dele
cation IL he decides to take the floor
at San Francisco.
New York For Cox.
The New York delegation, he pre-
dicted, will throw its support to Gov.
ernor James NJ. Cox, of Ohio, after
casting a complimentary vote for
Governor Smith.
He added that he believed West
erner, possibly from the Pacific slope.
will be nominated for Vice Presi-
dent.
His statement in part follows:
''They tell me that America has
pledged its word to Europe ahd that
this word must be redeemed in .ha
process of national campaign. In
my belief America has pledged itself
to nothing. One individual, speak
ing as such, permitted Europe to be-
lieve that he spoke fora nation, for
| in the last analysis he was nothing
more than self-appointed emissary.
Nevertheless, America is asked to
validate this signature affixed abroad.
signature which apparently was ac-
cepted in good faith by all the Eu-
ropean peoples as absolute.
''The President negotiates a treaty.
but the Senate may or may not con-
cur by two-thirds majority. In this
particular instance there has been no
concurrence.
"Other nations may want League
Of Nations, and 1t may be that we do.
But we do not want to commit
ourselves to the League of Nations
as it was brought back from Paris.
1t is an international issue. but # is
highly debatable question as to
what importance it should have in
national campaign. Ultimately 1t
is a question for the President and
the Senate to settle"
The statement then declares for
reconstruction at home, rehabilita-
ton of railway and internal water
way transportation and for solution
of the high cost of living wholly
apart from any international affilia-
tions." The statement continues:
"When the great war broke out
in 1914, naturally America was more
or less dazed and was willing to ac-
cept any kind of leadership which
might draw it thru possible diff
Guilty.
| Announces Leadership.
"In this moment the chief exec
utive again repeated that he was the
leader of his party, conception
therefore never entertained by any
American. AS well might the chief
Justice of the United States, Mr..
White, a Democrat, have made the
same proclamation. So might the
speaker of the House of Representa-
tives, Champ Clark. SO might the
Vice President, Mr. Marshall, con-
stitutional president of the Senate.
But America was concerned with
great issues and paid no attention
to what appeared to be a detail
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 ques-
toned, but which was accepted by
virtue of necessity. But this un-
happy hour has passed, and at San
Francisco we again return to true de-
mocracy. regardless of peace holders
and pot-hunters.
1--WE have finished with the fine
phrases. This country is determin-
ed to act in accordance with its un-
failing sense of justice. The indig-
mites of autocracy will never again
be accepted by this nation. This is
fundamental and no confusion will
be brought about by diplomatic or
financial Vaccinations"