The news scimitar. (Memphis, Tenn.) 1907-1926, 1919-03-07
RESPONSIBILITY

Without presenting a brief for one party or seeking to indict
another, we are content to say that the time has arrived, with
the nation facing a crisis, for ordinary horse sense to take prece-
dence over the very palpable ~jockeying for political advantage,
that can only aggravate the menace,
Only the politicians are concerned with the question OF
whether the president or the Republicans got the best OF it in
the senate when the congress adjourned in a riot.
Senator Lodge inserted in the record a round robin to
impress the peace conference that the league OF nations will not
be ratified. President Wilson sent a message to the American
delegation saying that he had every assurance the people were
behind hin
One set Of senators attempted to place the responsibility
upon the president, and the president gave out a statement ask
ing the people to place the responsibility where it belongs
Some believe the presidents obligation is to be IN Paris,
and others claim that he should remain in Washington. The
Republicans declare that an immediate assembling OF an extra
says the deliberations OF the peace conference must have priority
The public has made up its mind where the fault lies. One
part Of the public places the blame on one party, and another
part of the public places it upon the other party.
The situation begins to resemble an interstate commerce
commission report Of a railway accident. With things gone to
smash the attempt is made to establish by judicial inquiry which
engineer diSobeyed orders or failed to recognize signals.
The government finds itself with the railroads on hand,
operated at an expenditure of millions more than the revenue,
and with rates higher than ever in the history of the country,
with no money to continue making up the deficit. 1t has been
suggested the owners 60 into the money market and borrow at
a high rate of interest the money the government requires, IN
excess of the revenue, to operate the railroads. The owners do
not take kindly to the suggestion that they should have no
voice in the matter beyond providing the money upon which
they operate.
The solution is not clear at this time, and what will come
OF it is open to too many constructions for any prediction to be
reliable.
Inc victory loan Is coming, ana enthusiasm Is lacking
1T must be put over. Income taxes arc due, and nearly every
one who comes under the rule is scouting around trying to
borrow enough money to pay it.
Few people are concerned with placing responsibility for
the present disorganized state of affairs, nor are they endeavor-
ing to place future responsibility for the things that may or may
not come to pass.
But everyone is DESTROYS of getting the country back on an
even keel. The business man wants to see conditions begin to
fright themselves normally and gradually, The farmer wants to
sell his cotton for a fair price, and an opportunity to get it to the
mills and manufacturers in Europe.
The burden of fixing responsibility will be assumed at the
proper time if conditions should require a decision,
At present it would be a good deal more. agreeable if our
statesmen could feel that circumstances warranted them in
cndeavoring to secure credit for themselves for the things done,
instead of trying to fix the blame upon each other for the things
left undone.