The home journal. (Winchester, Tenn.) 1858-188?, 1884-08-27
ASKING TOO MUCH.
A Democratic Paper Which Cannot De.
fend an Unwsrthy and Unfit
Nominee.
Col. Savage's Tullahoma Harangue
Judged by the Standard of De-
cency and Propriety.
Fayetteville Observer,


We have always been loyal to the
Democratic party; have always sup
ported its nominees and defended the
utterances Of its candidates, in so far
as we could do so without being re-
creant to our duty as 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 ju dicial nature,
and, therefore, non-partisan and we
had supposed that Col. Savage, in the
performance of his duties and in his
appeals to the people for support,
would govern himself by those rules
Of propriety becoming one occupying
and aspiring to judicial position. In
this it appears that we were mistaken.
In 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 a haiangue that would be I'M
worthy the lowest professional poll
tician in the land, and if he 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 few extracts
will suffice. He said: GAS 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 to 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 waging a war against
the railroads? What right has rail-
road commissioner to 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
mitted to him. A partisan Judge is
no better than corrupt one.
Again he is reported as saying to
the delegates of the Congressional
Convention: ale charged the dele.
gates that they should never give any
man who had been railroad attorney
any Office" Without stopping to re-
mark upon the improperly OF Col
Savage debating to or obtruding his
advice upon convention to which he
was not delegate and in which he
could have no business, we will say
that it is difficult to determine whether
this utterance was not inspired by
demagoguery. Have not the railroads
a right to be represented by an at
torney? How can they be repre-
scented before the courts and before
the Railroad Commission except by al
attorney? Why would Col. Savage
DENY to railroads what the law Justly
comedies to every association OF per
sons, the right to be heard by coun
sci? Has not a lawyer the right tt
transact legal business for a railroad
as well as for anybody else? VIII.
punish the lawyer who perform
legal service for railroad company
Does not his professional duty require
of him to represent railroad com
pany as we'll as other litigants in tn
courts and before the Railroad Com
missioners? 1t seems that Col. Say
age, instead of being governed by tn
law creating the commission, woult
deprive the railroads Of the only RICH
conferred upon them by that act, tina
is of being heard before Col. Savage
commission by counsel. But we nee'
not enlarge upon these utterances o
this Judge who sits upon the Railroad
Commission the bare reading OF then
is sufficient to condemn them in tn
minds of all fair-minded men.
Is the Democratic party OF Tennessee
to be held responsible for the utter
ances OF Col. Savage? We will hay
more to say on this subject hereafte
Simplifying Matters.