The Greeneville daily sun. (Greeneville, Tenn.) 1918-1920, 1919-11-17
Only Bright Spot for
Democrats Was In
N. j., Says Shannon

1 ST. LOUIS, Nov. 17.--Joseph B.
Shannon, of Kansas City, former
chairman of the Democratic State
Committee, declared that the only
bright spots in the recent elections
for the democrats was m New Jersey,
where the democratic candidate for
governor boldly stood up for state
Irights-the right of New Jersey to
manage hor own excises and other
internal affairs without interference
from Washington--and won.
"The issue in that state was clear
lput" said Shannon. "Governor-elect
I Edwards boldly asserted that the fed
eral lawmakers from Utah, Kansas
and other states he'd no right to legis-
late in Washington on the appetites
and habits of the peopre of New Jer-
sey. He declared he is opposed to
the enforcement of the federal pro-
hibition amendment, and he won upon
that ISSUE" said Shannon.
"Here is what happened: I'm New
York a democratic plurality Of $780,
900 for Gov. Smith in 1918 was con
verted into republican plurality of
1900.
Republican by $4,000 in 1916.
"Now just across the riverlin New
Jersey, in state which gave d repub-
lican plurality Of $4,000 against
Woodrow Wilson in 1915, and where
a republican United States senator
was elected by more than 100000 in
1918. a democratic candidate, on the
direct issue of restoring to the people
some measure of individual liberty,
wins by 10000.
"The action Of New Jersey voters
should point morai to democratic
leaders of the country For more
than 100 years the democratic party
has lived--despite. its many blunders
because men thought it stood for
individual liberty Of action--consist-
emf with rights Of others.
1 Points to New Jerseys Example,
~ think" continued Shannon, "it
would be well for the gentlemen from
Mississippi and Tennessee and other
states who have state issue in which
they are greatly concerned to ponder
upon the action of New Jersey if they
want the democratic party to live.
T dissatisfaction with the policies of
the democratic national administra-
tion at Washington, and the detection
of large class Of democrats because
hey disagreed with some Of Wilson's
aolicies, were responsible for demo
cratic disasters in this election.
"But," added Shannon, ain New
Jersey, where the IiSafrectloh among
i democrats must have DrJn as great.
hey were welded together and were
strengthened literally by thousands of
republicans, upon the single issue OF
whether Washington shall regulate
the habits of the people of New Jer-
sey and look virtually after their
domestic affairs.
"The New Jersey election is an ex.
emplification Of the fact that the state
rights question is not dead" continued
Shannon.
II sat in the United States District
Court and heard Judge John C. Pol
lock assert that he had never under
stood that Congress had the right t.
regulate the manufacture and sale Of
intoxicants in the several states.
Pollock Sounds Warning.
Judge Pollock sounded the warn
ing from the bench that if the states
did not assert themselves, Congress
would soon usurp all their powers
, and he is right
II would suggest that the demo
cratic national leaders and those il
Missouri-wh where, unfortunately fo
. the democrats, no election was held
study the New Jersey election return
and get back to first principles-th,
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