The Lexington progress. (Lexington, Tenn.) 1884-current, 1921-03-11
THE STATESMAN.
1.-THE Nashville Banner.)

When the Democratic convention Of
last June passed resolution that as
sailed Senator John X. Shields for his
opposition to the unqualified accep-
lance of the League of Nations COW
enant, as it appeared in the Versailles
treaty, it injured the party to graf
ify personal maleviolence. The reso-
luton as the Banner at that time said
was unjust to the Senator and in ev-
cry respect ill-advised. It was intro
duced and urged in the convention by
a Chattanooga delegate, who owed
the Senator personal grudge and
received very mistaken encourage
ment from other sources.
There was never time in the his
tory of state when a Democratic ex-
ecutive nominated for reelection,
needed to avoid as far as possible all
unnecessary friction, but some of
Gov. Roberts friends seemed bent on
STERLING his candidacy into all man.
ner of factional contentious.
Senator Shields was wholly sincere
in his opposition to the proposal that
this country enter the League Of Ma
tons. He had abundant company in
that position and was able to give
reasons for the position he took.
There was no possible reason, other
than honest opinion, that could have
induced him to take that position. His
political interest would have led, 1t
would seem, to. contrary stand, or
at any rate, to less pronounced ex-
preston,
Except in as much as the treaty
had been negotiated and was urged
by Democratic administration, it
had no manner of Democratic essence
or association.
The Republicans were not united
on the issue as evidenced by their
long fight in the platform committee
at Chicago, but the election result
plainly showed that the pronounced
Democratic position taken at San
Francisco was unpopular.
President Wilson, on his first re-
turn from Europe, strongly urged
that the League question should have
non-partisan treatment He said in
speech at Tacoma, WASH, that he
would be ashamed to think of it in
connection with 1920" meaning of
course that it was not proper matter
for campaign issue, or to use in a
contest for party success.
A Washington special dispatch to
the Banner yesterday gave defense
Senator Shields made of his position
in the open Senate and review of the
campaign and election result. The
Banner is not prepared to say how
far the League of Nations issue in
fluenced the election result in Ten
nessee. The violent opposition to
Gov. Roberts denomination and the
faction within the party stirred up by
a Nashville newspaper, had something
to do with it. Prejudiced misunder-
standing of what were called "Rob-
erts' tax laws" that this same paper
and others did much to create was
also strong factor. Then unmis-
takably, the Republicans of Tennes-
see had perfected such an organiza-
ton in behalf of their national ticket
as they never had here before. State
Republican headquarters opened in
this city year before the election and
supplied with plenty of money did
much quiet work that proved effec-
tive. All poll taxes were paid and
all the up-creek voters were at the
polls.
But that aside, surely the Demo-
Gratis of Tennessee did not manifest
any marked enthusiasm in behalf Of
the League, and the party derived no
benefit from the wholly unwarrsnt-
ed and unnecessary attack on Sena-
tor Shields.