The Morristown gazette. [volume] (Morristown, Tenn.) 1867-1920, 1884-09-03

L OhAol lNItiIid, Will lLo Clti6S anu
wealth and prosperity, then consid~
er well this question of railroads.
Judge Reid here reads an interview
with Mr.. Daisy, of Nashville, in
favor of letting railroads alone
Judge Reid continued: Now, if
you want to continue this war on
railroads, elect Bate and Savage,
and now ask Gov, Bate, does he
favor the election of Savage and his
confreres to their present offices? [
ask Gov. Bate now to put his hand
upon one single reform that he has
brought about. The litigation of
the State with five Judges when be-
fore the war there were three
Judges, is still on the increase.
Cases which were heard before me
when | first went upon the bench
have never been heard of since.
Gov. Bate recommends the APP
pointmentofthree additional Judges
at big salaries, but this has produces
ed no relief, the lawyers only get
ting bigger salaries.
Take your tax payers off of the
county roads and put convicts there,
and it will save you money.
Additional offices have been Great
ed, as in the case of the Commits
sion of Referees, and the Railroad
Commission. The latter have not
drawn their salaries since the decis-
ion of the courts, on account of
Bates interference. These last
have made Mr.. Huntington say to
the people of Nashville, "Before |
build this great railroad, | want YOU
TO subscribe to the one half a million
of bonds so as to identify the people
with my enterprise. This is the
case in all the counties of the State.
The administration of Gov. Bate has
done great harm to the people of
Tennessee.
The SOB was no issue in this
campaign. Let Gov. Bate answer
as to what reform has been made
or agitated by his administration;
let him give his views as to the
railroad question and the convict
lease system.
Reid said that he would do what
ever he could in his power and abil-
ity to give pure and able adminis>
tration. He woald tear into one
thousand pieces the contract of the
State with Mr. Cherry. He would
try to to settle the railroad question
and treat it as such a question de-
served to be treated-not reckless
ly, but soberly and with the very
best judgment.
He would recommend some way
by which the enormous bill of costs
of criminal prosecutions could be
diminished, and would thus reduce
one third of the States expenses.
This convict lease system is mock
cry upon justice, shame upon ius~
tice and q disgrace to a great State.
Judge Reid believes that the ties
upon parties are greatly loosening
all over this country, and he thank
ed God for it. Party spirit has car
ried US too far. We are not merely
partisans, we are citizens, and it de-
wolves upon us to do what is right,
no matter whata party recommends.
If you thing as honest men that
Gov. Bates administration recom~
mends itself, then vote for him. If
not, vote for me, and l will kcepmy
promises.
GOV. BATE .REJOINDER.
The following is asynopsis Of Gov.
Bates rejoinder:
see two criminal judges present
who were here to see that crime is
punished, and / have nothing more
to say to the charges of Judge Reid,
concerning what he calls the in.
famous convict lease system, than
to say that criminals in the State of
Tennessee are punished by judges,
and have the benefit of trial by jury.
Regarding this convict lease system,
who is responsible for it's imitation
into the. politics of the State of Ten
nessee? 1t is a black Republican
baby, born on the 18th of May, 1866,
under the infamous Brownlow
regime. 1t has been matured and
brought up by the Republican party,
and they must still own and care
for their child.
To the taxpayers [ have TO say
that the convict lease is n great
benefit and saves to them about
s12a,00O yer year that Is, it saves
them that much under Democratic
administration. Under Republican
administration, they are compelled
to dance to the tune another. way,
and put their hands in,their pockets
to the extent of $125,000, which it
costs the State to run the penitep-
tiary, and the question arises wheth-
err it is better to work the convicts
in the prisons and mines, as they
are now worked, and get 100000
per year for their labor, or resort to
Judge Reds plan of working them
on the roads or in the streets, thus
giving them a chance to associate in
your neighborhoods and steal your
chickens and hogs. Vociferous APP
plause. Judge Reid says this ought
to be done in order to keep the con-
yicts from coming in competition with
honest labor This would necessarl
ly cost the State great deal, too,
as it would require a large number
of guards to keep the conviets if
worked on the streets and roads,
Until Judge Reid offers some better
of the question Of the utili-
zation of convict labor, / think you
will agree with me that 1t is best for
us to keep these fellows in the pris-
pms and the mines with the stripes
on them. and see that. they stay
there and make some slight com,
psnsation for the wrongs that they
have done. Vociferous applausel |.
By the way, | want to touch on II
question that Judge Reid haa
regarding my anything