The Birmingham age-herald., 1923-03-01
SENATOR'S DISLIKE SOLVING PROBLEM
 IN MAYF|ELO CASE
Definitely Learned in Wash ington Klan Not to Be Officially Cited in
 Contest
WASHINGTON BUREAU THE AGE-HERALD

Washington, D. C., Feb. 28 1 Senators who are presently in l Washington and who will be here
 when the next Congress convenes,
 anticipate with no little degree of
 displeasure the solving of the prob
 lem brought forth by l.. B. Teddy of | Texas. The contestant for the seat which has already been claimed by Earl Mayfield, demands a hearing,
 and it will be accorded him. But
 senators who know what an inquiry
 into the alleged activity of the Ku Klux Klan will mean, would indefi-
 nitely prefer to emulate Hercules and
 attempt to cleanse the Augean sta 1 bles.
 It may be stated definitely, how
 ever, that whatever verdict is found
 in the case which will eventually be
 celebrated, the Ku Klux Klan will
 not be officially cited as factor l bearing on that verdict. And yet senators admit that but for the klan there would be no case.
 One of the wisest politicians in l the Senate, who knows how to bal ance the effect of fact and the effect of expediency, In statement made
 1t as his off-hand opinion that the problem by the Senate would be sent
 back to Texas.
 It was his conclusion that the case 1 would be decided by those senators, l both democratic and republican. who live above the Mason-Dixon line. He l had in mind the political bearing. AS to the fact, whether there was jus | tice in the exclusion of the name of Teddy from the ticket. whether 1t was true that friends of Mayfield attempted to Newberryize Texas. and
 whether there was an open and suc- cessful attempt to prevent free ex- pression of the Texas electorate. he
 admitted that he knew nothing.
 Election to be Ree0omDmendee e D It was the opinion of this sena- tor. however, that the mere fact that Peddy's name did not appear on the | ticket would convince the investi- gating committee that whether just ly or unjustly, the people of Texas were not accorded entire freedom In the exercise of their choice. This alone, he held. would be sufficient to
 justify the committee in asking the Senate to refer the case again to Texas. with the recommendation that
 another election be held.
 In whatever verdict is reached,
 
 to the Ku Kiux Klan, this senator said. He admitted that the subject
 was delicate. in the first place. and
 to mention 1t, in the second place.
 unnecessary.
 According to the analysis of the situation furnished this bureau, the
 southern senators alone will be able to consider and act on the case with
 out regard to politics While the klan Is regarded as strong in Texas and Georgia, it has not been estab- lished that it Is politically omnl- potent in any other southern state. Likewise, it Is pointed out that voters who inherently oppose the klan are not omnipotent, politically. in any | southern state. This bureaus in | formant therefore, concluded that the south would be peculiar in its
 ability to attempt solution of the
 Teddy Mansfield embroglio with con-
 sideration only to the real merits in the case.
 Washington. He was presented to
 other senators by Senator Sheppard of Texas This senator-elect, na- tive of South Carolina, was of fine appearance, and had none of the
 characteristics which are generally attributed to wild" men. It Is said that the impression he made was ex- cellent. and that such impression will stand him in good stead next fall.
 His opponent has also visited Washington. He is admittedly an able man. He is democrat whom
 the republicans indorsed when the Ku Klux Klan frankly indorsed May field.