Every evening, Wilmington daily commercial., 1920-02-07
G,O,P,|S BLOCKING
PROGRESS OF WORLD
CUMMINGS AYERS
Party Has Proved m Utter Failure
in Postwar Crisis, Chairman
Tells Diners.
SIMS NAME is KISSED

ot trcfucntOtlS lutcrsSt w tiN hatioi
and of deeper interest TO the party IN
stimulating il for greater action in the
approaching Presidential campaign. IL
= considered by Democratic leaders 10
have given the party great impetus and 10
have outlined its course of action in the
coming canvass.
The essential part of the meeting is re-
ported below:
MIR. Cummings held UP the record of the
Republicans since their return TO power
IN Congress at the last election, and after
examining it chapter by chapter, COM
paring Republican deeds with the needs
II the world and this country in the post
var crisis, pronounced IL utterly void of
constructive achievement.
Pronounced kissing came from all
corners Of the ballroom when the toast
master, John NJ Richie, following an ad-
dress made by Secretary of the Navy
Daniels, declared that Admiral Sims
was the only man who opposed the North
Sca barrape which President Wilson had
suggested TO combat the submarines
Mr. Richie said:
Secretary Daniels spoke Of the great
harrago laid across the North Sea, and
,dmirals Mayo and Wilson. and the en-
tire members Of the Naval Board favored
4, but Admiral Sims WAS the only one
Who opposed It.
Tho kissing followed.
Failure not only in international af-
AIRS bv their blockading of the treaty
rati6cation, but failure 10 legislate for the
industrial, financial and social require
nents of the nation was charged against
the Republicans by Mr. Cummings, and
hc summed up the indictment with these
words:
The American people have paid and
still are paying a staggering price for hav-
ing elected Republican House and SEN
ate at the last election"
MANY LEADERS AT DINNER.
Democratic leaders from all sections Of
the country rose 10 applaud the chair
mans verdict. The dinner was under the
auspices OF the National Democratic
Club of this city. Secretary Daniels was
the other chief speaker He, too, ar
raigned the Republicans for appealing 10
hyphenated politics" and predicted de
feat for their party next November. The
secretary also replied indirectly 20 the
sims attack by again giving to President
Wilson the credit for being the first 10 see
The necessity for shutting up the German
submarines, long before the naval staffs
on either side of the water moved 10
hat end.
Chairman Cummings, after reviewing
with care the legislation that Republican
ongrcss has failed to enact, said
What picture do we present today?
\ picture of America disposed to haggle /
,ver the terms of a treaty % which the |
ast ot civilization already has asSented. !
We present a picture ol America rcluc- /
Lsnt 10 fulfill its legitimate obligations. /
We see America pictured As nation /
snXIous 70 securc the advantages OF a /
1 .fN Nata xx-1tk
q its responsibility.
PsRTIsASsHIP CONTROLLING FEATURE.
We see America under the guidance /.
& senator Lodge dealing with a question
,ffccting the destiny of the human race in /
3 manner which indicates that partisan /
-hip j. the controlling motive We behold |
mcn who criticised the President for TAX
ng six months 10 write the treaty unable !
themselves 10 reach a decision as TO its /
4ccrptance or rejection after eight months /
e sterile debate.
We find the League of Nations a. /
ready established and America not a part /
4 IT, We see our commerce which began I
10 seek every port IN the world still I
towering about American shores, with .
confidence that America has its heart 4
tehind the commercial ventures of its
citizens We find everywhere developing
criticisms augmented antagonisms. in
.reaslng part'sanship and a general dis
taste for politics and politicians. The
xact reverse of the picture would now be
true had President Wilson been supported
Ay a Democratic Congress The treaty
would have been ratified long ago and
America would have been in the very van
II the nations of the world.
At the outset OF his speech. Mr. Cum
hat II
more constructive legislation had been
enacted than the Republican party had
put through in q generation. Partisan
crltIcism might becloud the record for
ime, but 'the great facts OF the last SIX
years speak eloquently for the Demo-
cratic cause
II do not care how Others NAV feel
bout lt, he declared but | am proud
% be an American citizen. | am proud
II our great army, our great navy and
II the herolsm Of American men and
women / am proud Of the work which
america Is doing for the world and of the,
manner IN which the power OF nv country
las been used, and / am proud Of the
leadership OF Woodrow Wilson. Only
4 progressive and foreseelng leadership
.ould have brought America TO her pres
mt place, and vet the very men who have
.tood IN the way Of these measures Of
Irogress are now criticIslng the conduct
4 the war and the activities Of the Ameri-
an President.
The gentlemen who are now leading
ne Republican party crticlslng the
resident and warning against the League
Il Nations are the bad advisers OF old
whose counsel led TO trouble and whose
.dvice had 20 be discarded before America
'ouid mako progress.
Senator Lodge set forth year ago
o make the treaty OF peace partisan
ssuc, and he has never devlated from
hat course. Senator Lodge packed the
'ommlttee on Foreign Relations with
'enators known 10 be hostile TO the treaty.
: has been his purpose from the outset TO
nutllate the treaty and to Illustrate the
purposes OF the administration. At a
tme when every instinct of fairness plead
d for the whole-hearted support of the
resident. political antagonsms and per
1nal envy controlled the anti..Adminis-
ration force.
Mr.. Cummings said the efforts Of the
He'd statesmen 10 formulate a treaty
hat would prevent the recurrence OF
.ar had right 10 sympathetic support
rom all patriotic Americans, quite irre-
pective Of political affiliations, yet, "at
as critical pIncture IN human affairs
sepublican leadership completely failed.
nd our country IS forced 70 rely upon
atriotc minority ia the Senate 70 CO..
NTH sla pr.e4fI.K.s ..t.I tho ar&xg !