The Morristown gazette. [volume] (Morristown, Tenn.) 1867-1920, 1884-08-27
ASKING TOO MUCH.
A Democratic Paper Which Cannot De-
fend an UnwOrthy and Unfit
Nominee.
Col. Savage's TullahOma Harangue
judged by the Standard OF De-
ceney and Propriety.
Fayetteville Observer.

/ Fayetteville observer.
We have always been loyal to the
Democratic party; have always sup
ported it's nominees and defended the
utterances Of its candidates, in so far
as we could do so without being re-
creant to our duty as a citizen of the
State.
Col. John H. Savage is one of the
Railroad Commissioners, by appoint
ment of the Governor, and one of the
nominees Of the Democratic party of
the State for Railroad Com missioner.
His duties under the act creating the
commission are OF a ju dicial nature,
and, therefore, non-partisan and we
had supposed that Col. Savage, in the
performance of his duties and in his
appeals 10 the people for support,
would govern himself by those rules
of propriety becoming one occupying
and aspiring 10 judicial position. In
this il appears that we were mistaken.
In a speech made at Tullahoma, on
the 18th inst, during the sitting of the
Congressional Convention, as reported
in the A nerican, he transgressed all
rules OF decency and propriety. He
made n halangue that would be I'M
worthy the lowest professional poll
tician in the land, and If ne is correct
ly reported his speech showed con-
clusively that he was utterly unfit and
unworthy the position to which he is
aspiring.
We have not space to give the whole
speech as reported, but a few extracts
viii suffice. He said: AS soon as the |
railroads come down from the lofty |
stand they have taken, and acknowl- |
edge that they stand the same before |
the law as anybody else, then he was |
willing 10 cease war against them" In |
this sentence Col. Savage assumes |
that the railroads do not "acknowl- |
edge" that they stand the same before
the law as anybody else. The Colonel /
states no facts in support of this /
declaration, which was probably made /
for the sole purpose of exciting a
prejudice in the minds of ignorant
voters. He also admitted in the above
extract that he is waginga war against
the railroads? What right has rail-
road commissioner 10 wage a war
against railroads. The act creating
the Commission confers no such right
or duty. His duty is TO hear com
plants, hear proof and to decide
Justly and impartially all matters sub
nitted TO him. A partisan Judge is
no better than a corrupt one.
Again he is reported as saying to
he delegates of the Congressional
Convention: "He charged the dele
rates that they should never give any
nan who had been a railroad attorney |
my Office" Without stopping to re-
mark upon the improperly of Col. !
savage debating to or obtruding his
ldvice upon a convention to which he | |
vas not a delegate and in which he
'ould have no business, we will say (
hat IL is difficult 10 determine whether
his utterance was not inspired by ]
Have not the railroads
right to be represented by an at {
orney? How can they be repre- {
ented before the courts and before
be Railroad Commission except by an {
ttorney? Why would Col Savage
eny 10 railroads what the law Justly {
oncedes 10 every association of per
Ons, the right TO be heard by coun-
FL? Has not a lawyer the right to !
-ansact legal business for a railroad
5 well as for anybody else? Why
unish the lawyer who performs
gal service for a railroad company? =
oes not his professional duty require
him TO represent railroad COM p
any as well as other litigants in the d
,Trts and before the Railroad Com q
issioners2 II seems that Col. Saw
re, instead of being governed by the p
W creating the commission, would Ct
sprive the railroads of the only right c
upon them by that act, that =,
of being heard before Col. Savage's =
mmission by counsel. But we need la
II enlarge upon these utterances of W
is Judge who sits upon the Railroad in
Dmmission the bare reading of them =,
sufficient to condemn them in the
inds of all faiT-minded men. al
Is the Democratic party of Tennessee IN
be held responsible for the utter &C
ces of Col. Savage? We viii have a,
pre- to say on this subject hereafter. ~
Simplifying Matters. III
Hartsyilie Sentinel. ~