New-York tribune., 1920-06-22
Former Campaign Man
ager Says President Has
No Right to Declare
Himself Party Leader
Country Finished
With Fine Phrases
Return to True Democ-
racy Disregarding Plea
of Place Holders Seen

l. T.
Combs, chairman OF the Democratic
National Committee from 1912 to 1916
and manager of rlent Wilson'S
1912 campaign, issued statement here
tonight before leaving for San Fran
cisco attacking what he characterized
as the Presid dents autocratic assump-
ton of authority.
President Wilson, he said, has no
more right to call himself leader of the
Democratic party, "a conception here
tofore never entertained by any Ameri-
can than has Chief Justice White,
former Speaker Champ Clark or Vice
President Thomas r. Marshall
Mr.. McCombs announced that ar
rangcments had been made to obtain
for him seat in the New York dele
cation eff he decides to take the floor
at San Francisco The New York dele
cation, he predicted, will throw its
support to Governor James NJ. Cox of
Ohio, after casting complimentary
vote for Governor Smith He added
that he believed Westerner, possibly
from the Pacific Slope, would be nomi
mated for Vice President
Declares America Unpledged
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 itself to
nothing. One individual, speaking as
such, permitted Europe to believe that
he spoke for a nation. for in the last
analysis he was nothing more than a
self appointed emssary. Nevertheless,
America is asked to validate this sig
nature affixed abroad, a signature
which apparently was accepted in good
faith by all the European peoples as
absolute
The President negotiates a treaty,
but the Senate may or may not concur
by two-thirds maj ority. In this par
tlcular instance there has been no con-
currence.
"Other nations may want League of
Nations, and it may be that we do.
But we do not want to commit our
selves to the League Of Nations as it
was brought back from Paris. 1t is
highly debatable question as to what
Importance it should have in national
campaign. Ultimately it is a question
for the President and the Senate to
SETTLE"
The statement then declares for re-
construction at home, rehabilitation ot
railway and internal waterway trans
portation, and for solution of the high
cost of living, "wholly apart from any
international atfiliations.'
Great Issues Obscured Claim
when the great way broke out in
1914 naturally America was more or
less dazed and was willing to accept
any kind of leadership which might
draw it through possible difficulty" "
the statement continues.
ain this moment the Chief Executive
again repeated that he was the leader
OF his party, a conception heretofore
never entertained by an American. AS
United States, Mr.. White, = Democrat
have made the same proclarna ion. Sc
might the Speaker of the House of
Representatives Champ Clark. So
might the Vice President, Mr. Mar
shall, constitutional president of the
Senate. But America was concerned
with great issues and paid no attention
to what appeared to be a detail.
at was in such manner that for the
first time in the history Of this coun-
try autocracy came into being. 1t was
an autocracy which was questioned
but which was accepted by virtue of
necessity. But this unhappy hour aas
passed, and at San Francisco we again
return to true democracy regardless of
place holders and pot hunters. We
have finished with the fine phrases
This country is determined to act in
accordance with it's unfailing sense of
Justice The indignitles 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.