The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1921-05-26
M'COMB'S MEMOIRS
OF HATE PROBABLY
WILL Be PUBLISHED
Recall to Mind the Tragic Fate
Which Has Overcome Most
= of Conspicuous Figures OF
Baltimore Convention
~ HUGH w. ROBERTS
Washington Bureau The Accelerate
b0O Davidson Building

Washington, May 25.-(Special)-
The fact that the friends of the late
william F. McCombs plan to do the
probably unwise thing of publishing
the memoirs of hate" which the for
mer chairman of the democratic COM
mittee, while living. expressed every
where, to everyone, and in the most
lurid language, recalls to mind the
tragic fate which has overcome prac-
tically all the conspicuous figures In
the Baltimore convention.
President Wilson, after a service of
eight years in the White House, is
permanently stricken broken, white
haired, wrinkled old man of shattered
ideals. Champ Clark. who seldom
smiled following the result of the con-
vention. is dead. William F. Nc
Combs, who managed the Wilson fight
at the convection, is dead. He was
broken in health and body, full Of
domestic and financial troubles, and
overcome with disappointment and
hatred for those whom he felt con-
WINGED refused to appreciate the really
great service he rendered the demo-
cratic party. William ]. Bryan, with
out friends of the hearty variety. is
grim, grown angular, almost grew
some. His vision no longer encom :
passes the White House, and his last
hope Is pinned on the possibility of
dapriving a deserving incumbent OF s.
senatorial! seat from Florida.
The ono exception is Th;riaa r.
Marshall And who knows bu: that the
former wee president, but for his hui
NOR, his absolute refusal to take pc!iti-
ell chickering's seriously, his love of
his fellowman, would also be among
the stricken and the doomed?
There Is interest in the book of Nc
Combs' grievances which will sool be
fetchea xcrth. Washington 10 inter-
ested. Democrats would rC4. that
which they already know, or have al
reaIy heard. Republicans hope to gain
some rev angle from wh'vl :hey can
lombard woodrow wilson. who Ia un-
able or too Indifferent to express his
contempt.
But the interest Is not constructive
but destructive; not affirmative but
negative. 1t is the old story involving
the us..lessness of reopening old and
partially healed wounds, of parading
ones personal disappointme and
grievances, however. great or jus,ifia-
Bile, before world which does not
check it's progress even in face OF
death or monumental tragedies.
All that McCombs will say will be
true. He did refuse to haul down the
Wilson banner at Baltimore even when
the chief did SO order, and thus he as
much as any other individual is re-
sponosible for the failure of Champ
Clark to transform a simple majority
into a two-thirds majority. He did
contribute conspicuous, brilliant serv-
4 ice in the campaign. And it is true
that Wilson did not make him a mem
Der of the cabinet. And 1t is true that
there was something of irony in VII
sons offer to send him to Paris as
ambassador to the French. For VIII
son knew that McCombs was poor, and
that only the very rich can accept the
commissions Of this government at the
principal capitals of Europe.
FUTILITY OF PROJECT
But" the natural question is. why