Every evening, Wilmington daily commercial., 1920-11-04
BRYAN LAYS BLAME
ON THE PRESIDENT
Commoner Condemns Wilson 5
Autocratic Methods and Cox
for Supporting Him.

Isncoln. Neh.. Nov. A.-William !
BRYAN holds President Wilson and Gov
ernor Cox jointly responsible for the
disaster that on Tuesday overlook the
Democratic party. lie saws the Presi-
dent laid the foundation and the governor
comple,ed the structure. In statement
gwen out Yesterday Just before leaving
for the East. MIR Bryan severely con-
dcmncd the President, nor does he spare
Governor Cox, The statement says;
"Whllc the majorlties are larger than
even the Republican leaders expected a
Democratic defeat was inevitable, ana the
blame is easily placed. The President iad
the foundations for the disaster and
Goyernor 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 hirn the keeper
of their conscience.
ole alienated All Republican support
and invited partisan opposition 10y ms
anpeal inst before the election ot iolS,
Tor a Congress that would support hrs
rersonal leadership and then, though
knowing full well that the majority IN the
nation was against him, he refused 10
deal with the Senate as coordinate
branch of the government.
"lnstead az recognizing that the con-
stitutional provision requiring two
thirds majority for ratification compelled
comprnmise, he insisted upon debating
the terms upon which ratification could
he had and then on the 10th OF March
stuhbornly rejected ratification with res
ervations even when Senator Harding and
some thirtv-fve other Republicans were
hs, loo = hp wrote
with the few changes upon which they
INSISTED.
''Rv thus preventing ratification the
President assumed responsibility for the
nations failure SO enter the league, and
thrust the league into the campaign as q
partisan issue The people, confronted
with the choice between Presidential in
ialhblity and respect for the opinion OF
the majority of the Senate, naturally
chose the latter, and the Democratic
party. hy indorsing the Presidents posi-
tion. invited the defeat that has over
taken ID.
Governor Cox. instead Of repairing the
injury done by the President. aggra-
waited the situation 10y the manner in
which he avoided domestic issues and
misrcprcsented the position of the Re
publican party on the League issue, which
he declared 20 be paramount.
His attempt 20 put the Democratic
party IN the attitude of being the sole
guardian of peace was ridiculous, and
his assaults upon such well-known adj
vooatcs Of peace as eS-Tfesident TAFT and
Herbert Hoover were disgaceful.
The American people want the govern
mont 20 play its part IN the abolition OF
war. but they are indifferent as TO whether
yye arp mart of "A leay1le os mart of an
association of nations. There Is nothing
in name, but everything in a sentiment
The real issue presented bv the Demo-
cratic party was not whether we should
corporate with other nations interested
IN peace, but whether we should assume
moral Obligation which had no weight
erc-p, AS II suspended the right Of Com
rr~-- 10 act independently when the time
arrived for action. The nation will do its
part IN aiding 20 prevent war. but IL will
not surrender into the keeping of any
foreign group the right to determine when
We shall declare war
Nov that our participation will rest
upon the viii Of Congress and not upon
the arbitrary opinion Of a single man, we
NAV expect that universal disarmament
will be msde one of the conditions upon
which we attempt to advise.
The country will expect Mr. Harding
20 garry out his pledge to advance the
cause of world peace, and there is nc
eason To- doubt that he will do So In
the meantime the progressive forces OF
the nation will organize to compel Con-
creSs and the President to provide the
legislative means bv which the masses
can protect themselves from the greed of
tie qxploitarx