, 1923-10-02
The Ego Survives

The Wilson idea of a government "safe for
democracy is illustrated in the former presi-
dents letter to a Tennessee politician. In that
letter Mr.. Wilson declares: Il regarded Mr.
Shields during my administration as one of the
least trustworthy of my protested supporters
The ego stands out as usual. One man govern
ment is held up as the ideal.
There is no charge that Senator Shields was
disloyal to the government, that he neglected his
duties, or that he was corrupt. His sole Of
tense was that he did not prove to be unfailingly
dependable as a follower of Woodrow Wilson.
'The state! 1 am the state" is the Wilsonian
theory.
Apparently the sole basis for the criticism
aimed by the former dictator against his party
associate is that Shields refused to vote to rat
ify the peace treaty with its league of nations
incubus. Senator Shields declined to yield to the
Wilson demand that the United States make the
Supreme sacrifice"
For all practical purposes the league issue is
dead In the United States and, for that matter,
throughout the world. Although the United
States would not go into a league controlled by
a few European nations and certain to cater to
the interests of those nations, this country hoped
that the league might be of some service in
Strengthening out European quarrels. We put nc
obstacles in its path and wished 1t success. II
has fallen SO far short of usefulness in the con
troversies where 1t was really offered an oppor
tunity that even its friends have lost confidence
In its efficacy as a promoter of peace.
Since the league issue is dead, it would be bet
ter If its American advocates would leave it out
of current discussion. The letter written by
Mr.. Wilson to the Democrats of Tennessee dem
o~nstrates that there is no such intention and
that the league will be made a part of the Dem
ocratic campaign of 1924 If possible.
Notwithstanding that Senator Shields was
sound on the question of the supreme sacrifice,
there are abundant reasons why he should be re
tired at the end of his present term and be sue
ceeded by a Republican. That, however, is not
what the former president wants. BE desires the
nomination of a Democratic candidate who will
yield his own judgment to the judgment of the
executive. He wants a senate made up of rubber
stamps.
The Republican administration has taken the
lead in world peace by its successful limitation
of ornaments conference; it has p~racticed eco
nomy and reduced federal taxation; it did every
thing that could possibly be done to relieve the
misfortunes of the farmers; it enacted an Amer
~ica-first tariff law that has not been prohibitive
in its effects; it has secured n satisfactory I'M,
derstanding with Mexico, it has started the rail
roads on the way to recovery from the destruc
tiveness of government operation; it has follow
ed policies that ended unemployment and gave
jobs to four million idle men, it brought liberty
bonds back to par after a depression of fifteeT
per cent; it has suggested the only practical plan
for the adjustment of the reparations dispute.
The record is one that should be endorsed by
the people of Tennessee by the election of a Re
publican to the senate.