The news scimitar. (Memphis, Tenn.) 1907-1926, 1919-04-28
HOME STATE FOR
POINDEXTER, BUT
THINKS HIM WRONG
Lawrence Visits BaIiwiCk of
Last Scion Opponent to
League and Gives impress
SiOnS as Observed There.
BY DAVID LAWRENCE.
The News s%elmitRr's Special CORE.
spondent.)

SPOKANE, Wash, April 2s,-This Is
the home town Of Senator Poindexter.
irreconcilable opponent OF the league
Of nations. Like Senator Reed, Of Mis-
souri,, he is popular and his standing
has not been seriously impaired by his
attitude toward the league, but that a
majority Of the people Of this section
think he is wrong is the sentiment ex-
pressed by more than one Of his close
friends and followers who gave NE the
benefit Of their analysis of washing
toms trend Of mind.
Mind you. one OF these men said he
would vote for Senator P%oindexter
again and believed him the most useful
senator this state has had In It's his
tory, but as for the league of4nations,
well, Mr., Poindexter had simplS got
ten OFF on the wrong foot" From dyed
in-the-wool Republicans as well as
Democrats. there was no underestimate
ing the opposition to the covenant us
~ first drawn, and some sympathy
with Sr, Polndexter's objection, but
when he said he would vote for II only
II everything after the preamble was
stricken out, then even his friends
openly said they thought he had gone
Among many disInterested persons
the view is held that Senator Poindex-
ter Is against everything Wilsonian,
editor who keeps His ear to the
ground all the time told me that he
believed that all the abuse piled UP
against the president was creating a
distinct undertone Of sympathy. Union
labor especially was giving evidence Of
distrust Of the continued criticism and
opposition TO Mr.. Wilson, They are
again, and again pointing the finger OF
suspicion against the forces seeking to
discredit. Mr.. Wilson. Large senti
ment in this state, according to my in
other Democrat could carry 1t, and the
chances are that In the next election
II will be overwhelmingly Republican
unless the farm and labor elements get
the impression that the Republican
candidate is simply the tool OF big
business.
Propaganda Strong.
People back East probably do not
realize what a systematic propaganda
of distrust Of big business has been car
ried on Tor years in his region pRrtlc-
ularly in the farming communities OF
washington. Idaho and Montana. First,
Appeal to Reason, with its large oircu-
lation among farmers and laborers,
made Its impression, and now the Non
partisan league has taken up the fight
along with the socialists. MIR. vii
sons outspoken friendliness to labor
has In many cases kept voters in the
Democratic fold who otherwise would
combine with socialists and Nonpartl-
san leaguers.
One OF the best posted and most In
dependent editors in this state who
supports the Republican ticket as a
rule, told me emphatically that II the
Republican party puts up a candidate
who appears to be. sponsored by sena-
tire labor vote and the vote Of the
people generally will be solidified
against that candidate.
In other words, the lesson OF 1912 Is
still kept in mind and people tell you
proudly they were Bull Moosers" IN
that year,
AS a favorite son, Senator P~olndexter
would hardly be popular, but in any
contest for reelection as senator he
would have q walkaway- That's the
subsistence OF the political situation as
gathered from talks with well-informed
men Of all parties, One hears In Spo-
kane also concerning Senator Borah's
OF reports filtering In here as exactly
what l learned IN Poeatello, that the
senior senator from Idaho has been
losing gradually, The women feel that
he might have put owe by his vote the
Anthony amendment, granting suffrage
to the ome OF the nation, They full
~ expected him to do SO, and are out
spoken in their disappointment,
| have now visited tho three states
OF tho principal opponents OF the league
Of nations-Senators Reed, Borah and
PoindeXter. Kansas City gave Mr.
Reed a big audience when he returned
10 explain his case, Mr.. Borah hasn't
been back In the state, but in Missouri
the people believe he Ia wrong but do
not question his sincerity. Mr., Poin
dexter came back here and half the
people left the auditorium before he
finished speaking, He is held to have
taken the wrong side OF the question,
Mothers and fathers who have had
the war brought into their homes form
a nucleus OF strength for the league,
Everywhere II Is regarded az nm effort,
at least, to stop war, a step in the
right direction, and the folk out here
are wondering II Mr.. Poiudexter win be
bold enough to cast his vote against
the covenant even though II has beer
amended, His political courage is un-
questioned. and most OF those with
whom ! talked predicted that Mr.. Poin-
dexter would vote against the league
and even the treaty, " the two PROPOSE.
tons were interviewer.
How does the administration stand?
Criticism Of the most violent charaC,
ter has been heard against President
Wilson and his subordlnates. Post,
master-General Burleson is always sin,
Glcd out by Democrats aS the reason
for most of Mr.. Wilson'S mistakes. GU
here they blame him for that appeal 10,
n Democratic congress, feeling owe,
which has by no means subsidized TIL,
latest mixup with the New York Worl,
over attempted censorship Of pres
messages inside tho United States hai
created a very bad impression and PEG.
pie here expect President Wilson OF
his return to the United States to ap,
ply stern c%orrectives lest prestige Of tn,
Democratic party sink rs low az did tn,
Republican party when commanded ar
bitrarlly by such men as Aldrich an,
Cannon.
Confidence In MI, wilson is uuhrokel
SO FAR as the mass OF the people Is con
cerned. The effect Of much Of the crit
liciSm has been only TO create sympath,
Tor him In his strenuous job abroad
las bold and courageous course towar,
the Italian claims have evoked nue.
praise, not SO much because the peopl
understand the merits of the coutrover
ny, but because Mr., Wilson has bee
bold enough 10 ]denounce the secre
treaties Of even ono Of the allies an
has acted in a decisive way. Again
seems to he an admiration FOR the mg