The news scimitar. (Memphis, Tenn.) 1907-1926, 1919-05-16

away for the Republican PARTY. AM
Tor the Republicans Il Is perhaps wortl
while for them to know that their pop.
ularity is not yet based on apy per.
Torrance or demonstration of inherent
virtues, but upon a deep dissatis.
faction with the Democratic party,
past.
Country Irritable.
Strictly speaking, the country is iusI
now and has been for the last few
weeks, at least, in an irritable mood
lmpatience with the delays in Paris
only served as an excuse for the ex.
preston OF feelings long pent up. The
American people, by and large, did not
see the necessity for Mr.. Wilson's visit
TO Europe, though they are willing To
Examine the results of his Journey ia
answer the question OF the unwisdom
or wisdom of his mission before making
up their minds finally about 1t. They
have asked again and again why the
power to negotiate could not have been
delegated. But with the early return
OF the president and the completion of
the peace treaty this feeling may show
a tendency to disappear.
Mr.. Wilson'S appointment of Henry
White as the Republican member of the
peace mission is universally disap-
proved, not because of any %antipathy to
Mr.. White who usually is well spoken
OF, but on the grounds that he was not
the best nan In the Republican marty
for the job and that either Mr., Root
or Mr.. Taft would have been more rem
resentatiye of a party that happened to
win at the last elections. The ountr
does not think Mr.. Wilson displayed
particularly good sportsmanship, nor
even judicious self-interest in picking
men who could bring to his side long
experience in International affairs and
a reputation which would have united
both political parties behind the Ameri-
can mission.
Derived somewhat from the Inflated
appeal for a Democratic congress last
autumn, the people have an impression
mat MT, Wilson is intolerant OF oppo-
sltion even though opposition Is merely
discussion. Many persons in the Demo-
cratic party believe 1t would have been
more tactful for the president to take
the senate into his confidence. Then il
the senate showed itself partisan or
obstructive, the country would have
known where to place the blame.
Dissatisfaction with the administra-
ton, which Is widespread and Is as pro-
nounced in the South as it is in the
west, Is based not alone on Mr.. Will
sons tactics in handling his constitu-
ency with reference to the peace mis-
sion, but to the activities of the diff
ferent departments of the government
with which the people come in contact
Things Not Forgotten.
Many Of Mr.. Wilson'S mistakes in
connection with the peace nesotiations
may be forgiven when the peace treaty
is ratified and the people calmly sur
vey the results and accomplishments.
put they Will not as rapidly forget the
TACT that their soldiers in France rare
~ got mail from home in less than
i've or six weeks n oftentimes long
er periods. They will not forget that
misery and suffering was caused
by the mixup over allotments to the
wives of soldiers. They will not for
get that the postal service at home
has failed them, that telegraph and
telephone rates have been increased; |
that, whereas 1t never used to cost
anything to have a telephone installed |
moved from n room To another, |
government exacted all the Wav
from IS to SIS for such changes: and
railroad rates are higher than they
have been and there are fewer |
trains than heretofore. They will not
forget the number Of times they have
TO buy railroad tickets at con-
solidated ticket offices and found hardly
clerks to wait or the crowds.
They Will not forget ~annoyances Of this |
kind when they demand that the rail- !
roads be returned to private owners, |
and the officials Of these same roads |
ought not to forget that the people
are going to demand efficiency.
Most OF these things affected every
body. But as for classes in our pub
lie opinion. Well, the business men are
dissatisfied over taxation. More
grumbling Is heard in the exclusive /
about this than elsewhere but
t would be a mistake to pass off this
as the grievance Of the
wealthy for the iniquities OF the income
touched many men who found a
placed upon initiative as well
rs profits. The Republican party will
Ind this a vexing question and one
hat will require much explaining il
years hence conditions have not
been remedied.
Business men, however, have become
a unit in their opposition to
he present administration, not so much
because Of the taxation problems for
| certain amount of dissatisfaction was
Inevitable no matter which party at
to administer the income tax
or the first time, but because of a
of reconstruction problems and
! hardness In making adjustments on
var contracts.
The governments plans to stabilize
industry and assist America back to
uS'iiSS NbiiIOilblOI diltT II period OF |
regulation Of many businesses
lid not materialize. Democrats as well
IS Republicans are displeased about
hat. Maybe the executive branch of
he government still has time to save
he Democratic party from an endur-
ng demerit In this regard but the
lmount Of confidence In the Demo-
cabinet which l find among
men could be poured into a
himble without o%verrlowlng. II MIR.
came back from Europe and
for designations, most OF the men
n the cabinet. particularly Postmaster
General Burleson. never would be
look for Defeat. III
So far as the presidents own fu-
ure Is concerned, people do not ex-
'ect him to run for a third term but |
Inspect he may. Generally speaking
lis W friends doubt that he could
70 elected. Unless no deliberately
ought the radical vote Of the country
nd appealed to the laboring masses
N some issue of vitality that might
ater develop, the consensus Of opin-
on is that the contest would not even
70 close.
II Mr., Wilson makes up his mind
lot to run for II third term, and an
that fact, he will suddenly
'ecome the most powerful political
In America. People will forgive