The states-graphic. (Brownsville, Tenn.) 1???-1984, 1917-01-12
THE STATES-GRAPRIC
PUBLISHED EVERY FRIDAY
AL HAIL. KING LUKE"

Herald published an article unde~ III
caption. It Eas immediately .p,lowc'
by tile o.nnation Of Coy, Rye N II,
spring of 1914, after al Iplilica
dope had been upset, and seemingly
The impossible had been ace rp,Shcd
The following year Senator la sue.
cessfully organized the Tennessee leg
lature and his friends were elected tC
state offices.
The remarkable, the wonderful the
meteoric career of this younq nam, had
been. in many respects, without par
ali.l n the annals OF this sta he
was seemingly invincible la the r', n
Of 81 ate politics. For ,i;cc It ss'm-
eli that he would WELD a power and
exert an influence that no man in
the politics of Tennessee hat ever
possessed. But his defea, for reelec
ton to the senate in the fall Of 1916
seemed to cast a cloud over his politi-
cal career and there were no5 a,hiug
those who were free to declare that
he would not "come back, that his
political sun had set, and that like
many another statesman out Of 1 io@,
his power and influence had ende the
moment that he met his frs. real de
feat.
The Herald believed then what il
knows now, and that is that it WI
take more than a single defeat -
eliminate Luke Lea from the politics
of Tennessee. He has youth, ability, |
strength of character, the most win
ming personality possessed by any
public man in the stae, a smile than
won't come off, even in the darkest !
hours of defeat. These qualities are
not lightly to be set aside. He is also
the publisher of the organ of the great
democratic party at the capital of ~
state.
He has made many enemies but he
has also made many friends. His qui-
ct and dignifed acceptance of the re-
suit of the senatorial primary in which
he was defeated, his courteous, fair
and magnanimous attitude toward
those who opposed him in the realiza-
tion of his ambition, and his sunshiny
nature have all combined to win him
friends that he did not have when he
was a candidate.
In the organization of the present
legislature he was the most potent
factor in the state. Both speakers are
proud to proclaim their friendship for
him as are most of the other officers
chosen He threw all the powerful
weight Of his inhuenc" into the scale
in behalf of his friend, Senator Ike
Stevens, for secretary of state and the
result was victory where a week ago
defeat seemed sure and certain. The
election Of Senator Stevens was tri-
umph for Luke Lea OF er his political
enemies. 1t was due largely to the
splendid nghting qualities and the
great organizing ability of the sena-
tor.
If Luke Lea keeps his present good
health, pursues the paths that he has
trod since his defeat for the senate,
continues to be the chief optimist of
the universe and applies himself dill
ligently to the study f state and ma
tional problems, his successful return
to a station of political honor is as
sured. He did not win a senatorial
nomination.; under the circumstances
then existing that would have been a
miracle and the days Of miracles are
gone. But he did win the good opin-
ion, the esteem and the friendship Of
hundreds who did not know him.
AS public speaker he has improved
and developed more in the past six
years than any man IN public life in
the state. Not yet thirty-eight years
of age, already a senator of the Unit
ed States for six years, still the most
resourceful, the most powerful and the
best liked figure in political circles Of
the state, and yet a defeated candidate
Luke Lea presents one of the most re-
markable figures that the politics Of
this or any other state has known in a
generation. He is full Of energy, loyal