The Lexington progress. (Lexington, Tenn.) 1884-current, 1918-07-26

saddle Stahlman's debt on the fathers
ana mothers of our boys who have not
been exempted, but who are standing on
the blood-stained soil Of France to main
tain the government that Stahlman has
Slandered and that Shields has used for
his own selfish purpose
When President Wilson appeared In
person before Congress and asked for
the repeal of the Panama Tolls Bill which
he said was necessary to keep from
violating a solemn treaty with Great
Britain and because of our coastwise
shipping trade under its terms was UNI
justly exempted from paying tolls, the
distinguished constitutional lawyer, in
innate adviser of the President, and our
senior Senator, voted contrary to the
Presidents earnest appeal, and in favor
OF the shipping corporation, whose inter-
ests We're paramount to the question of
good faith involved in the solemn treaty,
Notwithstanding, in concluding his adj
dress, the President in person, said to
Congress:
81 ask this of you in support of the
foreign policy Of the administration. |
shall not know how to deal with other
matters of even greater deicacy and
nearer consequence If you do not grant
1t to me in ungrudaing measure
Senator Shields on this measure, ar
rayed himself against the President,
along with OGorman, Chamberlain, La
Toilette, Reed and Nardaman, Stahlman,
In his Banner, said, after the vote OF the
House and before the bill was voted on
in the Senate:
"The special interests have always
been more potent in the Senate than in
the House, and there is no doubt OF the
strong influence of the shipping interests,
the same old interests that have long
huneered for a subsidy being behind this
exception law
Pernicious Measure Urged by Shields
Many of the United States Senators
have been jealous of the President, in
whom the people would coniide all the
power necessary to win the war" Sen
ators desired to create committee Of
Congress to supervise the conduct OF the
war The President made known to
them his serious opposition to Il measure
fraught with so much disaster. TINS
was in July, 1915 but, Notwithstanding
I the Presidents earnest protest, Senator
Shields championed the measure and
voted for it.
! This measure was defeated, &as 1t
! should have been, but the Chamberlain
| bill, a less vicious measure, was later
introduced with the same ends in view.
| The Senator had heard from the people
| at home meanwhile and had learned
/ that the people on whose votes he must
| rely for re- election, We're standing behind
| the President The Senator is not always
1 so deaf that he cannot hear the voice
| OF the people when an election APP
| proaches.
Another Blow Against President
| When the Fuel Administrator, with the
| Presidents approval, issued an order Tor
business of certain kinds to close during
| the severe weather of last winter in
order to save coal needed by ships to
carry supplies to our soldiers and our
| Allies, and to keep the people OF tine
/ country from freezing, resolution was
| introduced to suspend and set aside this
/ order and the record diScoSes that the
| senior Senator supported that resolution
/ Not only that, but he afterwards gave
/ a voluntary opinion, a great constitu-
! tional lawyer, chat this order was un-
| authorized and Illegal thereby striking
another blow against the President and
his own people. Not only did he vote
for the resolution above referred to, but
/ Mr.. Garfield, the Fuel Administrator, was
compelled, because of the resolution, &c
disclose the causes that made the order
i imperative, and thereby served notice on
i the enemy that these ships loaded witt
supplies for our soldiers and our Allies
had not put out to sea-
4 | have always prided myself as being
4 a man who obeyed and respected the law
and would be loath to take any action
that would change my record in TINS
respect.
But when our President, in the face
Of a great national calamity, when tht
lives of our people were at stake ant
when the poor people of Tennessee, es'
pecally, were shivering in their Iireless
4 homes, if | had been in the Senate
i would not only have found no legal faul
with that order, but | would have sup
ported the President in his action, ever
though great constitutional lawyer!
claimed that his order broke the laws
Of the States and every city ordinance Il
the United States. ! deny that 1t IS thu
constitutional duty Of our citizens t.
freeze to death.
He introduced and championed bill
known as the Shields Water Power Blli
which his admring newspaper friends
proclaimed a piece of constructive legls
lation evidencing ability of high order
This measure failed in so many partic
ulars to protect and safeguard the PEG
pies rights that it was held up until thu
administration could prepare just ant
proper measure, The great corporations
interested in the exploitation OF tn
water power Of the country were, benin,
the Shields bill and held him in higl
esteem as a great lawyer.
Deception Attempted
on February 26. IBIS a most impor
tant bill relating to the United State
shipping was under consideration ant
came to a vote in the Senate, Ih
junior Senator from Tennessee an
nounced the absence OF his colleague
con public business" Letters OF tina
very date written from his office II
Washington, bearing his own signature
were sent out over the state, appeallni
. to voters to take care of him POLITICAL!
!. while he was remaining yalianty vt hi
post in the Senate looking after tn
peoples interest and standing BY tn
President.