The Chattanooga news. [volume] (Chattanooga, Tenn.) 1891-1939, 1920-11-01


Opposition to Gov. Roberts may be
olasuifed under four headsi
"a Republicans who prefer the cam
didate Of their own party:
tN Democrats who criticise the new
tax laws.
90 Democrats who are opposed 10
suffrage.
az Organised labor, offended at cer-
tain speeches and acts OF the governor
In maintaining order.
With the partisan republicans prob
ably Il would be useless to argue. The
more Independent and thoughtful Of
that party, however. recognize that
Tennessee normally 10 a democratic
state and that we have better adj
miniatration when we have governor
OF tho same politics as the legislature,
and this coming Legislature win cer-
tainiy be democratic. The democrats
Who are sore on tho tax system are
taking the wrong course 10 secure an
Improvement OF the system. Before
the August primary We set out many
detects In the tax laws. The verdict OF
the party was 20 try out the laws ana
improve them in the future. The gov
ernor asked the extra session 70 make
some important changes. The runaway
OF the anti-suffragists prevented the
enactment OF any such iegislation, but
q special tax commission was appointed.
which will report In January. some
needed amendments win be made. IN
the meanwhile we have had report
en- ali assessments and II must be Ad-
mitted by the worst enemies Of the Sow
ernor that n long step forward toward
tar equalization has been made. The
anti suifragists are less open 20 reason.
Their mistake was In not making their
night before the convention OF their
party. The state democratic conven.
tion on June and tho democratic ma
tionai convention on June "a both unani-
mously indorsed the Nineteenth amend-
ment. The democratic national COM
mittee and the convention also tele-
rraphed Gov. Roberts and urged him
10 cali an extra session OF the legisla-
ture 20 ratify. Atty, Gen. Frank NJ
Thompson and the acting attorn,y-gen-
crai OF the United states. former
ChattnnooEan, Hon. w. l.. Frierson,
rendered opinions that the amendment
could be legally ratified. The governor.
after consultation with his friends, ~
once announced that the session would
be called Aug. .. lie continued to rec
oeiye the support OF all the newspapers
which had formerly supported him, dc.
spite that announcement.
30, the governor has merely Kept the
faith and done what he said ne would
do. He displayed courage and when
tho f,ght over the amendment reached
N crisis he threw all his influence for
outrage. To have done otherwise would |
have bean to prove traitor 20 bis
party and perfldioua 20 his pledges. |
Our only criticism 10 that he has not
defended this M the greatest act OF his
which II was.
Az for his regard to the constitution
his critics fail 60 realize that the OBJ
legation 10 the federal constitution u
first.
Union labor'p grievance IL perhaps
moro real. We do not think the gov
ernor has handled organised labor al'
ways taetfully, perhaps not always
Justly. But his purpose has been 10
maintain law and order and In this
every member of organized labor also
has the deepest interest. What can |
labor accomplish by voting az class
against a democratic GOVERNOR II wiz
make IL more difflcult 20 secure needed .
legislation from that party, II II hndH u
can gain more votes In other parties by /
reason OF the opposition OF labor.
Now union tabor is naturally dcmos
cratic, II seeks the liberal party. II
may have tremendous influence IN
keeping the democratic party liberal,
The governor by his brave defense OF
suffrage has greatly Increased the
power of labor, Tho workingmnn who |
goes 20 tho polls with his wife, sister
or daughter would have 20 say TO her " /
asked that no other ono man was moro
for her being onfranchised
than Gov. Roberts Is 4 Justice 60 ask
that wife, daughter or sister 20 vote
against himg
As a consistent tricnd Of labor The |
News appeals 20 every workingmNn 20 |
vote without passion or resentment,