The news scimitar. (Memphis, Tenn.) 1907-1926, 1919-05-09

| nave ldNpTdDlP uDtnlOllS, out IneN 90
know the postmaSter-general and their
views are positive and unequivoCal.
1t must be said, how ever, in fairness
to Mr., Burleson that the charge that
he used convict labor on his plantation
and was in some way a party to the
whipping of %eonViets on his land can
not be sustained. There's nothing in
that was the way everybody answered
that question, though in the same SEN
tence they might utter severe criticism
Of the postoffice administration.
Only One of Many.
II seems that convict labor used TO
be hired out to plantations generally or
used on farms leased by the state. Mr..
Rurleson had no more to do with them
than any other plantation owner. For
several years 1t has been prohibited TO
hire out state convict labor on pri.
vately owned farms, What he did
years ago was considered regular in
business transactions In this state.
But Texas people do not harbor any
grievance on that ground against Mr..
Burleson. They are literally up in
arms against him, however, for his
management of the telephone system. |
have heard more bitter criticism OF the
postmaster-general in his own state
than | have in many other states. For
instance, in Houston the city council
has denied an application OF the tele-
phone company for an increase in
rates, but the postmaster-general
granted it. | am advised. moreover.
that a representative of his department
wrote the city council a letter threat
| ening to increase the rates 100 per cent
II they resisted the so per cent in
crease. Tactics like this are naturally
attributed to the postmaster-general
himself as the responsible head of his
department.
Ono aditnr ~ pf1,,apoo .uo,t - u.aot
pains to tell me hat Mr.. Burleson was
a strong personality who got his train
ing as A criminal lawyer n prosecut-
ing attorney and had lever ceased to
tackle problems In the same ~brusque,
driving way that he used when he
voring the wet side of the prohibition
fight and jumping in against the Hon,
Joseph Weldon Bailey, he came back to
congress again and again from his dis
trict. asked whether Mr.. Burleson
could be nominated for the United
berson, whose feeble health may bring
about his retirement, but I was told
that the postmaster-general had no
chance to win any elective office In
this state, judging by the way public
feeling is running against him today.
Calls Him Goat"
One observer of affairs said he was
mo champion of Burleson' and be-
leved he ought to be removed. but he
added rather Significantly that he
didn't think Mr.. Burleson took over the
cables and telegraph and telephones
and increased rates without consulting
proval.
THEY are trying to make Burleson
the goat was the comment of one
editor and he was by no means friendly
to the postmaster-general This sounds
Ike talk from Republicans and anti
wilson men, but both species are very
rare in this part Of the country.
The Wilson administration still has
a hold on the masses but not on the
business men Of Texas. This state
would never GO Republican but, as one
man laughlingly remarked, you mig Vt
a a Republican administration would
not be unwelcome.'
Witness for example, this quotation
from the leading editorial in the Fort
Worth Star Telegram, one of the indie
predetermined and most influential
Democratic papers in the South
THE course of wisdom for the Re-
publican party, would be to Cooperate
with the president in launching the
United states as one of the dominant
powers in the world politics, dismiss
he foolish idea that he expects to run
for a third terms and invite his CO.
~ iNAh NV 'CilltSlic DIUu~
lens OF the country during the next
two years Such a course would be
best for he country and best for the
Republican party for the whole logic
of the present situation is that the
country must choose that party which
try's business, both at home and
abroad. Whether correct or not, the
country has greater faith in the Re-
publicans for the present to solve our
domestic problems than it has in the
Democrats. 1t remains to be seen
whether the Republicans will destroy
that faith by showing themselves in
competent in foreign affairs"
Texas Is anticipating a Republican
administration, but it likes the Wilson
leadership In foreign policy and wants
to see the ideals he has expressed car
For example, the same newspaper
which printed the above editorial so
friendly to the advent of the Republi-
can party, In domestic affairs is in the
same day severe in its criticism as
10 Senator Lodges stand in the recent
Italian controversy. 1t says:
Raps Lodge Action.
THE Republican party's alliance with
the German-American alliance against
President Wilson in 1916 has been well
nigh forgotten by the people but 1t
WAS none tne less one OF the most dis
graceful episodes in our political his
tory. II the Republican party is to
follow Senator Lodge in forming new
alliances of this sort-as his letter to
the Italian societies of Boston would
lay the predicate fort is starting on
a mad career indeed"
Generally speaking, Texas is 100 per
cent American. Even its Germans in
large part Sent their boys to war and
supported the government throughout.
They recognize here the errors that
were made in the management of the
war and have no patience with the
Kitchin type of Southern Democrat and
would gladly ave supported President
Wilson II he had appealed to them as
against such leadership in congress.
Although Texas returned Democrats
to congress, many people here thought
the appeal for a Democratic congress
was unwise and illogical, Texas wants
II known that 1t never would have
issued such an appeal or elected to Of
flee men who advised the issuance OF
such a petition in the midst of war.
Texas is prosperous and grumbling
as are other parts Of the country about
taxation, likes the Wilson foreign policy
very much, hopes Mr.. Wilson will direct
the return at once Of the telegraph,
telephone and railroads to private own
ers, curtail the power of the post
master-general, If not remove him. and