Arizona republican., 1919-03-26
The Missouri Democracy


 Ordinarily a quarrel among the democrats of Mis- would Scite interest outside that state. but the controversy batween Senator Reed and some forty or fifty members of the Missouri legislature is of nationwide interet curiosity because of it's origin difference or views regarding the League of Nations. A caucus of fifty of the sixty mem- bers adopted resolution calling upon Senator Reed resign In quarters that resolution is under stood have adopted by the legislature. It has not will not be presented to the legislature action. Day before yesterday, forty of the demo- cratic members d3ressed a letter the chairman of the state democratic committee calling upon the mittee take action. In order that this thing may be kept straight the minds those who have followed the affair." it should be known that the ator in any event. may do as he pleases about rcsigning
 Here some fglcts in connection with the pro- ceedings: eed the invitation of the legis- lature 1S ad dressed that body the subject of the League of Nations, and in the of his remarks. criticised the president whereupon teen of the democratic members left the chamber.
 They probably wtnt there with the intention leaving for there cousd have been doubt tainty as to what the senator would say. He had previously and rously and warmly expressed himself in this respecH. So the dissatisfied members must have been prime,1, probably had understand ing that they would manifest their disapproval in that manner.
 caucus held at which forty democratic mem oers adopted the reso ton calling resignation of Senator Reed Other democratic members stated that the resolution rushed through without offer ing opportunity he opposition An interesting fact in connection witt, the affair that the move ment against Reed appears to have been headed by Senator Franklin Farris, who drew the resolution That fact is made the interesting by the further fact that Farris in 1sCu indicted for accepting bribe of 5000 from ths Baking Powder Trust" He tried twice At the second trial he was defended by Reed and acquitted it was generally believed because of impassoned hour speech by Reed Farrs is said now to be candidate for the United States senate
 It is claimed that if Che matter brought before the state democratic committee, two-thirds of it's membership will stand he Reed
 Interviews with members of the committee have far, brought out either unwillingness to discuss the case or expressions of: confidence in Reed
 Two prominent members J. B. Shannon and Thomas Pendergast The former is unfriendly to Reed, but he declared he would support him on the League of Nations issue.
 What Pendergast said is the more interesting be- cause, perhaps. in general way it interprets a country wide sentiment wieh respect to the League of Nations which, have pointed out, is yet rather abstract and popularly mninteresting subject in America, when dissocated from partisanship Said Pendergast:
 I'm not fool enough tn think l know anything about the League of Natiots but men like Senator Read and Mr. Wilson have made study of thes subject and are competent to give opinions I know Jim Reed would not attack the proposed league until he honestly believed he right
 "Pll say that seven of every ten democrats
 not goats any other fslctional followers-but
 the local democratic party a whole indorse
 the stand taken by Senator Reed"
 We do not think after all. the League of Nations is much the issue in Missouri it appears to be on the surface. It is the regularity of the senior senator that is under fire Tsle regularity of no man can be attacked because his stand with respect to the League of Nations unless the attackers concede that that is party issue Thtre are eminent republ- cans, in fact. the most eminent, MT. Taft and MT Hughes. advocates of the league. Yet no republican has assaed their regularity of their advocacy of the league. No can the regularity of Reed Senator Thomas Champ Clark or any other democrat be assalled because he is oppdsed to the league