The news scimitar. (Memphis, Tenn.) 1907-1926, 1919-04-17

SOUTH OUT OF H SADDLE
The converting of the extraordinary session of the congress
will mark the end of Southern control.
Whether it will be a good thing for the nation remains to
be proved. That it will be a bad thing for the South cannot be
denied.
The charge has been made that the Southern representa-
tives and senators have not done the best they could for the en-
tire country, and this, perhaps, contributed to the result Of the
last election that gave the Republicans control OF the legislative
branch of the government. In some instances, it is true, the
Southern representatives have shown themselves provincial and
sectional. Temporarily the marked preference was a good thing
for the South, but a more moderate desire to serve their con-
sthuency and a more consistent desire to serve the whole coun-
try might have been better in the long run for the South.
For many years the North and East were the receiving end
Of the government and the South was only the contributing sec
ton. The advent of Woodrow Wilson and a Democratic con-
gress changed the aspect of the situation.
A Republican congress may profit by the experience OF the
preceding congresses and justify the wisdom of the country in
Its very evident desire for a change i'll control. On the other
hand, the Republicans may be driven to excuses by the recent
years OF political famine and render their control shortlived and
unjustified.
The Democratic congress will be at a distinct disadvantage
The Democrats conducted the war in a manner to win the
approval Of the world and the applause Of every fair-ninded
man Of any political faith. Naturally there was extravaganza
induced by the emergency, There was some fraud, perhaps more
than we realize. The Republican congress will make the inves.
legations. The Democrats did the work. The Republicans will
60 over the books, The Democrats turned out the job; the
Republicans will audit the account. There is no way to deter
mine whether it could better have been done by the other party.
The Democrats were the producers; the Republicans are the
critics,
Perhaps it is better that the bookkeeper should not audit his
own books or inspect his own work. This is one justification
for a change following the completion of a tremendous enter
prise. Unfortunately there is no opportunity for comparison.
M Nnat the DeHlQcrauc congress accomplished must stand or tall
according to the worthiness OF the workmanship, instead OF on
the question OF whether someone else could have done it as we'll
or better.
Speaking from a sectional point of view, there are many
changes in committees that will not be to the advantage of the
South. Men who have been strongly sympathetic with this sec
ton and have understood its difficulties and Its problems will
give way to men who do not understand the peculiar character
of our problems and are indifferent to them.
The changes in important committees in the house are too
many TO recount, but the mention OF a few in the senate are
indicative of the complete revolution in the complexion of the
law-making body. Gore of Oklahoma, chairman of the com.
nittee on agriculture, will give way to Warren of Wyoming;
Martin OF Virginia, chairman Of the committee on appropriations
will give way to Smoot Of Utah Owen Of Oklahoma, chairman
OF the committee on banking and currency, will be succeeded
by Mclean OF Connecticut; Sheppard of Texas, chairman of the
committee on the census. will be succeeded by LaFouette o
Wisconsin; Mcclellan OF Tennessee, chairman Of the committee
on civil service and retrenchment, will be succeeded by Cunrnin.
of Iowa; Robinson of Arkansas, chairman OF the committee n,
claims, will be succeeded by Golf of West Virginia Fletcher O
Florida, chairman Of the committee on commerce will he suc
ceeded by Nelson Of Minnesota; Smith Of MARYLAND, chairma,
of the committee on the District of Columbia, will be succeeded
by Dillingham; Of Vermont; Smith of Georgia, chairman of IN,
committee on education and labor, will be succeeded bv Bofal
of Idaho; Simmons of North Carolina, chairman Of the commit
tee on finance, will be succeeded by Penrose of PENNSYLVANIA
Hardwick of Georgia, chairman OF the committee on irmiera
ton, will be succeeded by Colt of Rhode Island; Shields Of Ten
nessee. chairman OF the committee on interoceanic canals, will b.
succeeded by B~randegee OF Connecticut; Smith of South Caro-
lima, Chairman OF the committee on interstate commerce. will h
succeeded by Townsend of Michigan, and Swanson of Virgin
loses the important committee on naval affairs and the Sout
loses Bankhead Of Alabama as chairman of the committee o.
postoffces and post roads.
These are some OF the important changes in chairmanship
held by Southerners or Democrats strongly sympathetic with III
South that serve to warn us OF how completely the South h is "ou
of the saddle" so far as the law-making body of the povenmen
is concerned.