The states-graphic. (Brownsville, Tenn.) 1???-1984, 1918-07-12
GOV. RYE OPENS CAMPAIGN.


sible voters of Tennessee, if they be-
lieve for single moment that by that
statement he intended to give his APP
proval to the candidacy of Senator
Hardwick of Georgia, of Vardaman Of
Mississippi and other senators whose
loyalty and patriotism may well be
questioned.
Properly interpreted, the presidents
statement was an appeal to the mem
bers Of congress to forget that selfish
ambitions, moving them to an ad-
journment before the completion of
important and necessary financial and
other obligations. 1t was an appeal
to them to keep at their posts in the
discharge of their duties as members,
instead of devoting their time to their
political ambitions, compared with as
surances that the official with rec
ord of duty faithfully and disinter-
estedly performed would find his inter-
ests safeguarded by his constituency
when the facts were such that no man
cou.u disguise them" That such an
appeal was timely is evidenced by the
fact that from the beginning of the
career of our senior senator down to
June rs, 1918, the Congressional Rec
ord discloses the fact that there were
2,97O roll calls. On these roll calls,
the senator was present and voting
1862 times, absent 1872 times, absent
and paired 1872 times, present and
paired A times. Since the beginning Of
the present session-the mos, import
ant in the history Of the country-he
was absent ITO times on roll call, pro-
eatread rtatttiRg 22asaSl4se a.
case for the reason that for a year 81
more he has been actively engaged il
writing letters to the citizens Of the
state in the interest of his candidacy,
and directing the activities of his hired
henchmen in their efforts to organize
the state for his election.
When it was sought to amend
measure before the senate, so as to
include within the selective draft all
male persons between the ages of 10
and 30, and providing that all who had
attained the age of 10 years should
enjoy the benefits of at least six
months military training, but should
not be called for military duty before
they reached the age of 81, Senator
McKeller, the colleague Of Senator
Shields, stated to the senate, 4 desire
to announce the unavoidable absence
of my colleague on official business"
Senator Shields had voted to table the
amendment at an earlier stage of the
proceedings, before the final vote,
which disclosed that he was "absent
on business"
When it was sought to amend the
food control bill, which authorized the
president, whenever an emergency ex.
lists requiring stimulation of produc-
ton Of what within the United States
to determine and fix and give public
notice of the reasonable price of pro-
fits therefor-the amendment provid-
ing among other things for a mini
mum guaranteed price of $3.50 in
stead of $2-when this important
amendment was reached--vastly inter-
esting and important as it was to the |
people of the country, of one of the
twenty-eight senator's recorded as not |
voting, Senatr Mcclellan said, 81 wish
to announce the unavoidabl absence of
my colleague, (Mr. Shields) on public
business"
My friends, one of the Characters
tics of President Wilson, the greatest
president that ever occupied that high |
office, is the fact that he entertains
convictions of his own, and does not
hesitate to express them. Whenever
he has felt that the public good de-
manded the service of particular in
dividual in the senate, he has not hes
itated to so express himself, leaving
to be imagined or surmised.
He calls individuals by names. In this
connection he showed marked discrim-
nation and great courage when he
publicly commended the loyal services
Of Senator Robinson of Arkansas and
indicated his desire for his return; he
showd his interest in senator's who
have been faithful when he expressed
his interest in the reelection of Sena-
tors James of Kentucky, and Lewis
of Illinois; he showed great patriotism
and a commendable absence of mar
row partisanship when he asked the
democrats of Minnesota not to oppose
Senator Nelson; and in Michigan when
le asked the democrats to support
Henry Ford; but, my friends, he has
lever indicated to the voters Of Ten
lessee that he desired the return Of
he senior senator, and in my judgment |
le never will ask for the return Of a
enator who openly defends and public
y eommends the loyalty and patriot