The Memphis appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1886-1890, 1889-05-09
MOODY TALKS.
He Attacks Gov. Taylor and Mr.. Lea
For the Manner in Which the Peni-
Tertiary Bill Was Treated.
He Claims That He Was Betrayed
by the Speaker of the Senate,
Who He Had Reason to Believe
Would Support the Measure
Until the Very Last Moment-He Gives
tho Governor Some Very Severe
Blows and Crlticises His
Executive Ability.
Special Dispatch to The Appeal.

NASHVILLE, Tenn, May S.--Senator
Moody was asked by reporter today how
he felt about the defeat OF his bill. "0t
course" he said, smilingly, 'you would
not expect man to be very joyful oyer
the defeat OF measure he considered OF
:, such importance as that BILL But have
discharged my duty and am not dis
gruntled over the result. | was much
concerned about the penitcntiary question.
and was anxious that this Legislature
should move in the direction OF prison re-
form and put the State into condition to
abandon the lease system some day. But
would have been satisfied with the result
OF the vote but for the fact that the bill
was betrayed in the house Of It's friends.
II men who always protested TO be its
friends, and who had urged me to push it
to passage, had not betrayed me and
changed front at the very last the bill
would have passed"
"To whom do you refer" asked the re-
porter, "whcn you speak Of men who be-
trayed you?"
81 refer especially 10 Mr.. Speaker Lea"
WIS Ailt iuttN Ifllls W hNH nt loOA Allt
floor Yesterday | felt very much gratifcd,
because felt sure he WIS going 10 speak
for the bill, and was never so surprised
IN my life as when he took the other side.
had frequently asked his advice about
the bill, and as late as yesterday had con-
suited him and had no iniima,ion that lac
had changed his mind as to the merits OF
the bill, or rs TO the propriely OF passing il
over the Governors veto. ! was es.
pecialy surprised at the objection he
pressed, because the bill did not
1--WE the Governor the sole power
TO appoint commissioners. Soon alter
heard that the Governor was gong TO veto
the bill talked with Speaker Lea about
IL, and he IL was who first told me that he
understood the real reason for tho vote
vas that the bill did not give him the
appointing power. | understood, both
ifom his language and his manner. that
hc approved that feature OF the bill and
thought II n wise provision. / suppose
he has changed his opinion on that sub.
- jccl because he wants Gov. Iaylor's sue.
cessor 10 have the appointing power. /
really think, however, that Judge Lea
uced not be alarmed on that score.
"And while on this subject. continued
Mr.. Moody, 81 would like TO say somc-
thing about some Of Gov. TaylOr's numer-
Gus interviews. In some OF these he has
been very abusive OF me, and | would
have replied to them at once, but did
not want TO imperil the success Of n bill !
considered Of such importance TO the pco-
pie OF the State by becoming involved in
personal controversy with tue Governor.
In tho Hannp OF April . he says that my
minority report and my Bill arc irrecon-
cilablc. As TO that, | am willing 10 lay
the two papers before any truthful and in
tclligcnt man In the country and leave II
20 his judgment. lie SAYS my report
makes the Prisons bells. There is nothing
of the kind in my report The Governor
was mixed, as he generally Is, and was
thinking OF Mr. Odlum's report 10 the
house. Ills trouble Is he lets some one
else do his thinking instead Of examining
facts for himself. No one knew better
than | that the prisoners, for whose pro-
lection my report was made, had no po'
litical influence, and no one knew better
than ! knew that the men criticised In
that report were influential. and that
would some day hear from Il and feel u.
Butt made tho report as / introduced thC
In. because / believed II right, and the
Legislature has yindicatcd my Judgment
In part. Every reform pointed out IN that
report as necessary IL provided for IN the
= release bill OF Mr.. Marshall, ~ far ts a re-
| leasing bill could provide for them.
GIN an interview the Governor had Will
n Nruruis ArrEAL reporter but which
did not sec until two days before started
20 Nashville. he says, speaking Of me; y
understand that lac has stated that with
held the veto until the Legislature was OF
the point Of adjournment aud until there
4 such a "a A.
mont IL willul, miserable ialsehood
coolly and deliberately uttered Now, ~
matter Of fact, he did that very thing, ii
the records OF the Senate show ant
as everybody knows. j, therefore, d,
no, feel that my reputation Tor trutl
and ycracity can possibly suffer because
The Governor when am sixty miles away
makes charge against inc that he woul'
not dare 10 make in my presence. Ant
on the question OF inconsistency ] woul,
suggest that the Governor be little care
fui. lilo has stated In various interview
that he has told members for weeks tia
ho would veto my bill, aud yet he claim
that lac returned the bill With his veto q
soon ~ he had time TO examine II. II
Tug MEMPHIS APrEAL, OF April ., Coz
Taylor IL quoted as saying, when aske'
IL he had anything 10 say In reply TO m
nothing to say beyond expressing my as
tonishmen, that any people would SEN
10 the Senate such man as Moody
want 10 say TO that" continued Mi
Moody, that Gov. Taylor Is the onl
man who has expressed surprise, and
have such n contempt for his cp,niun tina
i do not care TO notice H. The only reaso
WY have not gone to him personally q
10 that interview Is that the facts, the re-
ords Of the Legislature, are with me an
disproyo him and, therefore, nothing thi
he could say would injurc me. The Pc
pic Of Tennessee know the facts.
Referring again 10 the bill, Mr.. Mood
said: III Il had come TO a vote the satu
day before VIC adjourned every Senate
except Mr.. Sparks would have vote
against the veto yet somehow this inieri
has worked revolution. lrs mystei
10 inc. think II is the frst time In q
history Of legislation in Tennessee that
bill has taken such coutsc, and thir
Il Is tho first time In the history OF u
CIT. that IA (,uxofnor lag nome INTO III