The Mena weekly star., 1920-06-24
N'CONBS LEADS
REVOLT ON WILSON
Presidents Manager in 1912 Refutes
Party Leadership or That America
Is Pledged to Anything--"Indig-
mites Of Autocracy" Must Go.

Chicago, June 21.--William F.. Nc
Combs, chairman of the Democratic
national committee from 1912 to 1916
and manager of President Wilson's
1912 campaign, issued a statement
here tonight before leaving for San
Francisco attacking what he charac-
terized as the Presidents "autocratic"
assumption of authority.
President Wilson, he said. has no
more right to call himself 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.
Mr.. McCombs announced that ar
rangements had been made to obtain
for him a seat in the New York dele
cation, If he decides to take the floor
at San Francisco. The New York
delegation, he predicted, will throw its
support to Governor James NJ. Cox, of
Ohio, after a complimentary vote for
Governor Smith He added that he
believed a westerner, possibly from
the Pacific slope, win be nominated
for vice president.
America Pledged Nothing.
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 a national campaign. In
my belief, America has pledged itself
to nothing. One individual, speaking
as such, permitted Europe to believe
that he spoke fer America but he had
no authority to speak for nation, for
in the last analysis he was nothing
more than a self-appointed emissary-.
Nevertheless America is asked to val
idate this signature affixed abroad,
signature which apparently was ac-
eepted in good faith by all the Euro
pean 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 ii 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. It is
an international issue. but it is high
ly debatable question as to what inn
portance it should have in national
campaign. Ultimately, it is ques-
tion for the President and the senate
TO SETTLE"
Calls for Reconstruction.
The statement then declares for re-
construction at home, rehabilitation
of railway and internal waterway
transportation and for solution Of the
high cost Of living, wholly apart
from any international affiliations"
The statement continues:
when the great war broke out in
1914, naturally America was more or
less dazed, and was willing to accept
any kind of leadership which might
draw it thru a possible difficulty,
"In this moment the chief execu-
tive again repeated that he was the
leader of his party. conception
heretofore never entertained by any
American. As well might the chief
justice of the United States, Mr..
White, 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, constitu-
tional president Of the senate. But
America was concerned with great is
sues, and paid no attention to what
appeared to be detail.
No Mere "Autocracy."
1T was in such a manner that for
the first time in the history Of this
country autocraey came into being.
1t was an autOcfacy which was uues-
toned. but which was accepted by
virtue of necessity. but this unhappy
hour has passed, and, at San Francis
co, we again return to true democracy
regardless of place holders and pot
hunters. We have finished with the
fine phrase. This country is deter
mined to act in accordance with its
unfailing sense of justice. The in
dignities of autocracy will never
again be accepted by this nation. This
is fundamental and no confusion will
be brought about by diplomatic or
financial machinatfons y