The news scimitar. (Memphis, Tenn.) 1907-1926, 1918-11-13
STATE POLITICS =
IS REASSEMBLED
FORLEGISLETURE
Many Officials To Be Elected,
Following Roberts lnduC-
tlon-TreaSurer and Comp
troller Candidates.


Politicians are beginning to recall
that President Wilson adjourned poi
ltics onl yfor the duration Of the war
Now that the war is over 10 proclams'
ton will be required to Teconvene II.
When IL was predicted that the war
would extend into another spring cam
paign it was assumed that the Ten
nessee legislature. which meets in IAN
uary, would be an exceedingly tame al
fair, The end Of the val came in time
TO permit the politicians to get back IN
form with two months time IN which
to train, They are going to Nashvilte
primed for some radical measures ana
with knives out for each others scalp.
Gov. A. II. Roberts will be inaugu-
rated early in January at a time to be
set by the legislature. The farewell
message Of the governor win be q for
mality. He may taxi occasion 10 cite
the achievements Of his four years IN
office. years Of unusual responsibility
and tell how we'll he has measured up
to the requirements Of his position.
incidentally the people are wondering
If he has an eye to some future pohl-
zeal post. Lawyer and notary public
| monotonous existence compared with
the exciting years that lie hss spent al
the state capital, Perhaps he VIII lay
the foundation for n contest for tho
next campaign for senator. Blu GOV.
Rye has the disadvantage OF going OUT
Of office, Of losing his machine II It's
vote-getting strength. Political strength
does not follow a man into retirement.
The former kaiser perhaps could tell
him hat power goes with the crown
and not with the head that wore a
crown.
There is a prospect that some rad
ical legislation will be attempted. The
state board of control, i~naugurated by
Gov, Rye's regime, may pas sinto the
discard. Denton, Baird and Pope are
mediocre men, They are politicians In
every sense of the word. But they
may have made a good record. The
people will know before many months
have elapsed, Up to this time no one
has given their operation of the states
affairs much attention.
One Holdover.
The secretary of state is the only
| official Mt the capital not coming up
for election. Mr.. Stevens has two years
vet to serve. He Is fortunate, He Is
| nephew of Capt. Brackin, chairman Of
the state board of elections, who tried
so desperately and with such little
success sto throw the force of the
his candidacy against Senator Shields.
John h. Thomason, state comptroller,
will be a candidate for reelection.
Thomson was a warm supporter OF
| Gov. Rye. He divided with his Shelby
county friends In the August primary.
| He is Il strong friend of the governor,
| but not so strong thae he wants TO
| folio whim into the seclusion of private
life.
Porter Dunlap, the state treasursr,
will bio a candidate for reelection,
| Dunlap has been lucky IN politics. He
has ridden IN on the tide that bore his
friends out into the sea Of political OBJ
livion. Some say that he will be taken
In when the tide recedes next January.
| But that remains 10 he seen. lie will
| have opposition. That much Is set
tied. How strong he Is and how strong
the opposition win be are yet to be de-
I termined, .
One thing generally understood ID
that Senator Shields and Judge Rob.
erts are warm personal and political
friends. The fact that many Of the
leaders supported Roberts for governor
and Rye for senator has not disturbed
their relations. judge Roberts UNDER
stood In the beginning that he was sup
ported by a lot of time servers who
nieked hin1 as the winners Senator
Shields was in no position to. charge II
to Judge Roberts for some 6f Austin
Peay's warmest friends were his sup
| porters,
The one thing that appears to be Ger
| tain Is that the Roberts, Shields forces
can control the legislature IL they com
| bine. Some interesting developments
| are in prospect and there Is no doubt
| that the legislature lis going to be an
exceedingly interesting assemblage.