Dresden enterprise and Sharon tribune. (Dresden, Tenn.) 1907-1997, 1915-09-23

ASR0OAASctl AOfCAuOE AOF IlIee wears OF ll
term of Office, he comes back into the demo
cratic party and serenely asks the part
which he has kicked and whipped all over tn
State, to give him the highest office with
lts gift. And even now, after that kind O
record, he is abusing the representatives Q
organized denn6v.--vy ~ad threatening ther
with political oblivion Is it right; is it fail
that the democrats of the State should homo
Senator Lea with this high office when he ha
such political record as this?
Senator LEAFS political course reminds me O
Uncle Rastus' snake, of which it was said
He wired in and wired out,
And left the people all in doubt,
AS to whether the snake that made the tract
Was going on or coming back"
Independent Democrats Not to Blame.
But do not include those really indepen.
dent democrats who rebelled against the ac-
ton OF party bosses in 1910 and 1912. These
democrats, | have no doubt, for the most
part acted on conscientious and patriotic
principles land have no words of condemna-
ton for them. l hope, however, now that
new issues have come in and new men can
be found who will uphold the true principles
OF our party, that we can all re-unite and be-
come militant, vigorous and successful
party in our State once more.
Senator LEAFS Official Record.
But let us assume that Senator LEAFS po-
htical record is democratic gem or purest
ray serene. Let us assume that he was elect
ed by democrats; that he loves democrats;
that he stands by democrats; let us assume
that his party record is faultless. Should
the democratic party nominate him on his
official record? AS grave as are the polti-
cal objections that are constantly raised
against Senator Lea, they are nothing like
so grave as the delinquencies in his official
record Senator Lea has made a personal
po ythip ~ h. IT.
has been boyish toy. He has never taken
his duties seriously. His attendance upon
sessions OF the Senate have been of the most
desultory kind | do not say he has not
been in Washington since his election, for
ne has been, at times. He has been there
several days at a time occasionally, when
the Tennessee legislature was not in session,
and OF course take it that he could not be
expected to be in Washington when the Ten
nessee Legislature was in session He has
been there often enough to vote on few of
the important administration measures In
the last session of Congress, for the first
TWO months he was absent practically all the
time But it must be remembered that dur
ing these two months the Legislature was in
session or about to be in session
Senator Lea's Desertion of Administration
during Merchant Marine Fight. ~
1t was during this time that the great
administration for building of
: l4ssSfGGsSBant marine was up. Senator Lea was
not there. The crucial test on that bill came
on February LIST, 1915. The friends of the
measure in the Senate on that day were
forty-two, and it's opponents were forty
four. II Senator Lea and Senator Lewis of
Illinois, had been there, the measure would
have passed, for the Vice-President would
have voted on that crucial test. But, Senator
Lea was busy with the legislature at Nash
vile, and was not present. AS much as that
measure meant to Tennessee and to the
whole country, it meant nothing to Senator
Lea in comparison with his own political in
terests, and the democratic administration at
Washington, lost one of its greatest fights,
and perhaps the country has lost for all
time the commercial prestige of a great mer-
chant marine because of the absence of these
two democratic Senator's.
In view of Senator LEAFS desertion of the
Wilson administration on the merchant ma
rine bill, by absenting himself from Wash
ington, it is remarkable that he should have
discussed the merchant marine bill at all in
his speech, but yet he does. This is what he
says about it. | quote from speech
"The democratic party has been in power
for only two years and cannot be held re-
sponsible for the failure of the merchant ma
rine. This failure should and will be laid at
the doors of the republican party. This
necessary measure was defeated by the votes
OF republicans in the Senate, aided by their
democratic allies who deserted their Presi-
dent and their party in the hour of their
sorest need. AS one of the supporters of that
measure will give it my loyal support when
ever it is presented to the Senate under sim
liar conditions"
This statement of Senator Lea is a traves-
ty upon the facts. The merchant marine bill
was debated in the Senate all during the
month of January. On the first day of Feb
ruary the crucial test came, and the friends
OF the bill lacked two Senators. Senator Lea
had not been in his seat in the Senate three
days during the whole time this bill was be-
ing debated. He was not present when the
crucial test came Het was absent in Tennes-
see, in attendance upon the Tennessee legis-
lature at Nashville, and the defeat of that
was in large measure attributable
to the fact that Senator Lea stayed away
from his post Of duty in Washington, and
stayed in Nashville in attendance upon the
legislature. One of the men who deserted
the President and his party at that time was
Senator Lea. A warrant for his arrest as
have been informed by Senator's, was &C.
tually issued and placed in the hands of the
Sargent at Arms of the Senate, before he !
could be gotten to divorce himself for even I
short period from the Tennessee legisla-
:urs 1t is astounding that under these con-
iitions Senator Lea should say,
As one OF Cne supporters OF thaC measure
will give it my most loyal support when
aver it is presented to the State under SINH
ar conditions"
In making such statement Senator Lea
must take it for granted that the people of
Tennessee do not read the newspapers.
Senator LEAFS History on Election of |
Senator's.
Senator Lea next claims to be in favor Of {
he election Of Senator's by the people, He :
Iays: 7
"A small clique Of corrupt bosses and We
lal lobbyists have always tried to make the !
nominations and to allow you (meaning the
'eople) only the privilege of electing those
whom they have nominated for you to elect l
md selected to geyorn you" E
Senator evidently, speaks by, the card. !