The news scimitar. (Memphis, Tenn.) 1907-1926, 1920-08-21
Garrett Escapes.

The Democratic rational platform de-
clared in favor Of the Nineteenth
amendment. The Democratic state
platform went on record In favor of It.
President Wilson several times COM
municated with members OF the Ten
nessee legislature urging ratification
Gov. Cox, the Democratic nominee TOT
president. was said to have been in
almost daily communication with Gov
Roberts urging ratification Gov. Rob
erts himself advocated ratification Of
the amendment as vital feature of
the Democratic platform,
The most convincing argument made
before the legislature In opposition TO
ratification was the address OF Repre-
sentative F'inls Garrett, member of con-
gress from the Ninth district. and one
OF the leaders In the national house Of
representatives, Mr. Garrett presided
over the state convention that went on
record favoring ratification OF the suf-
frage amendment. Mr.. Garrett sought
TO make null and void the pronounce
rnent OF the national convention as we'll
4B the STATE NOuNNHNltH VNNh NhANh tAt
had the honor to preside.
Notwithstanding Mr.. CARROTS posi-
tion on the suffrage question and his
refusal 60 be veund by platforms, either
state or national, and his open opposi-
ton to those whom many Democrats
delight to follow without question and
acknowledge as their leaders, we have
observed no disposition from any source
TO place upon Mfr. Garrett the brand
OF treason.
We give TO Mr.. Garrett fun faith
and credit for following hts convictions.
Mr.. Garrett is net the character Of man
who would stultify himself in order to
observe a vote-catchlng phrase in a
party platform or In order TO enjoy the
smile OF approval from the dispensers
OF federal patronage
Mr. Garrett is a useful member OF
congress. He is ma ional figure He
Is destined to serve many more years
IN public life IL he desires to do so. and
set on a question OF conscience Mr.
Garrett refuses to surrender his con-
yictions at the behest OF the president.
candidate for president or the voice OF
the party speaking through It's platform
announcement
Mr.. Garrett has strengthened himself
with the people OF Tennessee. not be.
cause they all agree with him but be-
cause he had the courage to stand by
his convictions and the provision in
the state constitution which he believed
was an obstacle to the ratification OF
the Nineteenth amer dment by the pres.
ent legislature.
or the two or three papers in Ten.
nessee that - violently assailed Senator
Shields because he did not support the
league OF nations and follow the presi-
dent in opposition to his convictions,
the Chattanooga Times was perhaps
the most ferociods, And yet the Times
has been equally violent In its opposi.
ton to suffrage. contrary to the state
and national Platforms and the wishes
OF the leaders II processes to adore
The publisher OF the Times declares
he lis through with Roberts" because
Gov. Roberts supported the suffrage
amendment. The Times. II Il has not
commended the attitude OF Mr. Garrett,
stood by him and brought to bear every
possible pressure to induce members Of
the Legislature to repudIate the posi-
ton of the Democratic party on the
suffrage question
II becomes more and more apparent
that the quality OF treason so often
mentioned in the newspapers is not
treason at all but coarse and Hbelous
description of some one they can neither
control nor influence