Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1920-07-18
\ Strange Reversal


GO rapidly are the political changes being
- rung that the American citizen who has
steered his course along the ancient land
MARKS, ciinginS tenaciously to the tenets of
the party founders with an abiding faith in
the principles OF democracy that they laid
down, and has voted his answering convic-
uons at the polls, is impcllcd to stop in be-
wlderment now and then and cast about
10 get mis- bearings under the strange condi-'
tons that surround him.
~ case in point is presented Up i'm Yer
mont there is Il stunch old Governor,
observation-disclosures Republican. who, imper-
FicuS to the storms OF entreaty and threats
mat nave beat iii upon hiEl, is so convinced
that the States have certain rights which the
Federal government cannot lawfully invade.
That lie refuses TO call his Legislature in
session to ratify an amendment TO the Fed
crai Constitution, i'll violation of the organic
law laid down in the Constitution of his own
state over III Ohio also OF the North the
presidential candidate of the Republicans,
party Of Capitalization. emphatically and
consistently repeats his answer OF NO" to
every argument advanced rs to why he
should seek TO force his will or that OF his
party on sovereign State in defiance Of.
what lie holds to have been the plain intent
o. the writer's of the Federal Constitution,
even when the balances containing 1900
WV womens votes might be swayed by
sacrihce OF principle to eNpediency
In Washington, Democratic President,
leader OF the party of Jefferson in pursu-
ance OF his weil-established policy of inter
fering in purely State matters, is bringing
the full weight OF the administration inlu-
ence 10 bear on the Governor OF the Demo-
cratic state OF Tennessee 10 call his Legis-
lature in session and force the ratification
that the Vermont Governor refused The
presidential candidate of that party has
brought the weight of his position to bear
and the Democratic Governor has yielded to
the> combined pressure in face OF what is
written in the Constitution of his State
The sincerity OF none may be questioned
nut the comparison is drawn to show the
reversal few years have wrought in the
basic principles OF the party, or rather i'll
tie manner in which the party leaders in
terpret them.
The attitude of Governor Roberts, Of
tennessee, does not rebound to his credit
when compared with that of Governor
his oath to support the Constitution OF his
state; the former is prepared TO sacrifice
his state by making dead letter of its con-
stltHlionai provision that no Federal amend
mcnt shall be put to vote until after the
people shall have had opportunity to express
their wishes by the election of new Legis-
laturc. The fact that the Supreme Court
w" "S"ihsl suite reierenuumS on ConSti-
tulional amendments does not enter here.
Inc mandate OF that tribunal cannot set
aside or nulify this provision of the Ten
nesscc Constitution, and If the latter is vio-
lated and the amendment ratified. it may be
doubted If the ratification will stand the test
OF the courts.
Governor Roberts, in his announced in
tention of calling the Legislature for i'm
mediate action, seems to have been driven
by outside influences and n mistaken con-
ccp,ion OF the Supreme Court ruling, to the
s"Dordihaiion OF his own peoples interests
as set forth in their Constitution, and in
MS sanction OF the proposed violation of
that instrument he shows neither the clear
vision nor the adherence to principle mani
tested by his Northern contemporary If
tennessee retains any OF its ancient urdor
for its OWN sovereignty 1t will demand that
he account for his trust