The commercial. (Union City, Tenn.) 190?-193?, 1922-06-09
HON. FINS J. GARRETT.
NASHVILLE Bannerl

swing happens to be in the opposit
direction. Big, Democratic gains ar
positively assured. To-day the Stat
of Tennessee has five Republican
members of Congress. There is n,
Republican so optimistic as to fore
cast as many for the next Congress
| There is hardly any sort of doub
that after next March Tennessee
| delegation will be eight Democrats
and two Republicans.
And so in many other States. The
abnormal will give way to the nor.
NAL, and the political complexion OF
the House will be determined defin-
itely only when all the returns are in
next November.
Tennessee has a strong delegation.
1t will have a stronger next year
when Cordell Hull resumes the seat
which he lost in the cyclonic year of
1920.
Their respective constituencies
could do no better than retain such
men as Byrns, Padgett, Davis, Fisher
and Garrett. All have been tried and
found to be of value. They are ex-
perienced, able and untiring workers.
One of the number who stands con-
spicuously out as the likeliest Dem
QcrGt for Speaker in the event of
Democratic House is Hon. Finis J.
Garrett, of the Ninth Tennessee Dis
trict, He is now the floor leader of
his party in the House. If the Demo-
Gratis win he will likely be the next
Speaker of the House, a most distin-
guished honor, an honor that has but
twice in the nations history, come to
Tennesseans.
Apropos of this situation, we
quote from an article by Col. Robert
M. Gates, Washington correspondent
Of the Memphis Commercial Appeal:
"Finis j. Garrett, acting Demo-
cratic leader in the House, is now in
his district by special leave of abb
sence. The fact that this leave was
Mr.. Garrett has directed
attention, especially on the Republi-
can side of the House, to the fact |
that he is being opposed for the nom
nation.
ut is recalled in this connection |
that this is the first time the titular
leader of the party in the House,
either majority or minority, has had
opposition in his own party.
I'm the case of Congressman Gar
rett it is exciting unusual interest in
both political parties, the Democrats
because they are naturally concerned
in the fate of the acting leader whose
prospects for the speakership in the
event the Democrats should control
he next House, seem bright, and the
republicans because of belief that
he defeat of the Democratic leader
n his own party would be filled with
political significance national in
cope and not of mere passing local
movement.
indications are shaping toward
he probability of the organization of
he next House by the Democrats and
n that event Mr.. Garrett, it now ap-
'ears, will be the probable choice of
lis party for the speakership honor.
Republican leaders are search
ng for something to discredit the
Democratic minority in both houses
+ Congress, and the defeat of the
citing Democratic leader in the {
louise would be construed by them as
reputation in sense of the minor t
ly party's activities and seized upon
S an Offset to the blows of the Hard I
ng administration by the defeat of 6
enator New in Indiana and the nom I
nation of Pinchot in Pennsylvania
~ |AAS Opp'olblOl1 VI Tie It6puUll-
an machine.
Mr. Garrett is the only Democrat '
member from Tennessee who has
pposition, and the fact of his titular
arty leadership has focused atten- {
on upon the Ninth District"
Some months ago the Banner, sens
lg a possibility and knowing at the
lme time the peculiar fitness of Mr.. t
arrett for continued service in the a
ouse, endeavored to smooth the :
ay for him to nomination without !
oposit'on. His eminent services as I
ell as his great prestige as a leader a
Congress entitle him to this act :
approval by his constituents. AS :
ated by Mr.. Gates, he is the only d
Congressman with opposi a
On within his party. Also, it is
usual because as a rule when
ngressman attains to himself dis /