The news scimitar. (Memphis, Tenn.) 1907-1926, 1920-11-29
Seeing Red.


ten by one Of the foremost politica
Interpreters of the country, an ar
ticle entitled Democratic Salvage,
in which it was stated that Oscar
Underwood, John X. Shields. Robert
Lansing and other Democrats Of
their ability and independence would
exercise a strong influence with the
:. incoming administration. and that
4 Senator Shields. because of his ser
4 vice on the foreign relations commit
tee with Senator Harding. where he
demonstrated his remarkable legal
ability, would be in line for appoint
Inent to the supreme court Of the
United States in the event of va
cancy during the next four years.
As a result of that article. our cpl
leptic friend and neighbor, the Com
Inercial Appeal, had spasm In the
following language, as 1t always
does when the name of the senior
senator from Tennessee is men
toned:
with the exception of Senator
Underwood the list Of Democrats and
near Democrats selected by Presi-
dent-elect Harding for future confer
ences includes all those who did the
most to defeat Democracy and to re-
store Republicanism to power. Our
own Senator John X. Shields has
been selected as one of the conferees,
and it ia well that he has been. It
makes us feel that, after all, political
leaders are not altogether ungrate-
ful. The senior senator from Ten
nessee did as much as any other sup
posed Democrat to insure the cleo
ton of Senator Harding and he de-
serves all possible reward for SER
vices rendered
1--WE are told also that President
elect Harding purposes to name Sem
ator Shields to a high judicial post,
This, too, shows the good judgment
Of the new president. Nothing could
be more appropriate nor wise than
TO provide future berth for Sena-
tor John X, because he comes up
for election again before President
Hardings own term expires"
Only few newspapers we assume.
regard it as a reproach and an in
suit for a citizen of opposite politi-
cal faith to be invited to submit to
a conference with the president of
the United States.
To say that Senator. Shields did
as much as any supposed Democrat
to insure the election of Senator
Harding" is not a statement of calm
elaboration. 1t is merely periodic
outburst Of personal and political
hatred. 1t is not statement of the
facts.
Senator Harding carried Tennes-
see because the political bigots In
control of the Democratic state con-
vention, led by down aM-out poll
tieian who was disappointed in not
getting a federal office, and sup
ported by some federal officeholders
who protested friendship for Senator
Shields until he voted to confirm
their appointment, wrote a plank in
the platform condemning Senator
Shields.
In the interest Of Democratic sue
.cess and harmony the Commercial
Appeal asked Gov. Roberts II he
would, II elected, pledge himself to
compel Senator Shields to change his
position on the league of nations and
support the covenant as submitted to
the senate by President Wilson. Rob-
erts very foolishly said he would. |
That was one OF the reasons he was |
defeated for reelection by $4,000 |
votes.
We rejoice that we can. Contem-
plate the consideration of Tennessee
ans for high positions in the govern
ment with the conviction that the |
Volunteer state is still producing big
men, and not harbor the suspicion
that it is reward for party trea-
son.
Carrying the Commercial Appeal
to a logical conclusion we
would be obliged to cast about to dis
cover what particular crime Justice
White. of Louisiana. committed In
exchange for his elevation by a Re-
publican president TO be chief JUS
tice of the supreme court of the
United States, or in what manner
Justice Lurton stabbed the Demo.
cratic party in Tennessee to secure
appointment to the supreme court OF
the United States.
Judge Dickinson. Tennessee
Democrat, served as secretary of war
in a Republican cabinet Gen.
Wright served with distinction as
secretary of war in a Republican
cabinet. and was governor general
Of the Philippines through appoint
ment by a Republican president.
We really think It is unfair for
the Commercial Appeal to suggest
that there is moral turpitude in the
consideration Of Democrats for high
places in the government under a
administration.
The threat to defeat Senator
Shields four years hence is not cal
culated to strike terror to his soul.
II has been his good fortune to have
the same opposition throughout his
public career. and he thrives on it.
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