Jasper County Democrat, Volume 21, Number 101, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 19 March 1919 — CUMMINGS RAP’S G. O. P. HEADS [ARTICLE]

CUMMINGS RAP’S G. O. P. HEADS

Hays Challenged to Take Stand on League of Nations. New York, March 15.—Homer S. Cummings, chairman of the Democratic national committee, has issued a challenge to Will H. Hays,

chairmen of the Republican national committee, to place his party on record with respect to the league of nations. The challenge was issued in l a speech here last night at a dinner in his honor at the National Democratic club. Other speakers included Josephus Daniels, secretary of the navy, and Governor Alfred E. Smith of New York. “I had hoped, and I still hope, ‘ said Mr. Cummings, “that this great league of nations project will not become a partisan question. Is there any reason why Mr. HUys should not put h|a party upon record in this matter, so that the league of nations 'may have the support of both political parties and of all forward-looking citizens generally? He will be in good company, for he will find himself supported by Mr. Taft, Mr. Wickersham, Ex-senator Burton and President Lowell of Harvard and last, but not least, by Mr. Hughes, with Mr. Root still to be heard from. It is safer leadership than that of Senators Lodge, Penrose and Knox.” Mr. Cummings made a vigorous attack on the Republican leaders for what he termed “their unusual efforts during the last two or three ears to regain mastery of the machinery of government,” “To this purpose,’’ he asserted, “they have brought all their ingenuity, have summoned all their resourcefulness, have magnified beyond all reason minor errors of judgment in the conduct of the great war, have mobilized the forces

of Irritation and discontent and have made tacit concessions to certain elements, which, to say the least, show tendencies toward open sedition.ll is an unholy alliance and can not prevail. \ “When congress adjourned on March 4 an open filibuster against pending legislation was still In progress. The senate abdicated ifs functions, declined to consider the most pressing of national needs and wasted precious moments in violent political abuse and vehement opposition to the league of nations. So intent are the Republican leaders on their purpose that they have been betrayed into all sorts of indiscretions. Their 'moderate triumph of November, 1918, has gone to their beads. The mere prospect of control has already thrown them into confusion.

“Ever since the war began in Europe, in 1914, our ears have been vexed by the wild cries of the opposltion, proclaiming a superior brand of patriotism, and now at the very first sign of a return to partial authority, the leaders of the Republican party in the senate have placed themselves in opposition to a league of nations, and the leaders in the house of representatives have selected for floor leader Congressman Mondell of Wyoming, who voted against the tabling of the McLemore resolution and opposed the selective drait law. Senator Penrose is to be chairman of the great senate committee of finance, and the reactionaries are dictating the policy of the party.” Mr. Cummings then recounted the war records of Republicans who have been selected for chairmanships in the house of representatives in the next congress. “It is ‘a pitiful conclusion,” he asserted, “to a campaign based upon such ardent 'promises. It is an extraordinary thing that those who are loudest for war seem to be most determined that America shall relinquish the duties which have fallen to her lot as a result of the war. “The idea of a league of nations is not difficult to understand. The plain people understand it. Only learned senators were confused about it. Let us not be disturbed by the action of the dissenting senators. They are engaged in the imost ungenerous task in history and their objections are written in sand.”

Secretary Daniels declared in his address that he was curious to iknow just what evidence would convince the “professional partisan leaders in the Republican party’’ that the “sober sentiment of the great 'majority of our people” desires the league of nation?. “It would seem fair to assume,” said Mr. Daniels, “that a mandate of congress passed by a practically unanimous vote of both houses,-* directing the president to do all in his power to create such a league, might answer even their fastidious requirements. Let us see for a moment, how such legislation could be drawn up and make a guess at their attitude toward it. First, naturally, would come a preamble on the policy of the country. Let us start it out something like this: “It is hereby directed that it is ( the policy of the United States to adjust and settle its international disputes through mediation and arbitration, to the end that war may be honorably avoided. "This should be followed by a direction to the president to take practical steps to carry out the policy. We 'might well put it this way: “In view of the premises, the president is authorized and requested to Invite, at an appropriate time, not later than the close of the war in Europe, all the great ’overnments of the world to send representatives to the conference which shall be charged with the duty for formulating a plan for a court of arbitration or other tribunal, to which disputed questions between nations shall be referred for adjudication and peaceful settlement.”