Daily tobacco leaf-chronicle. (Clarksville, Tenn.) 1890-1895, 1890-04-23
HAS NO STATE POLICY.

Col. Josiah refuses to tell his State
policy as governor. The people
ought to refuse to put that high trust
into a mans hands who virtually
tells them it is none of their business
how he intends to discharge the
trust -Chdttan00gG Times
The Times is quite right about this
matter, but Patterson is not alone in
this role, no candidate seeking the
high office has condescended to map
out his policy or suggest the needs of
the State for the betterment of its
condition and the prosperity of the
people. Patterson don't mind say
ing that he is in favor of refunding
part of the State debt, and this is the
only idea the people are able to gain
of the policies concerning the we'll
fare of the State under the next adj
ministration. In the days of good
old fashioned Democracy it was Gus
tomary for men seeking party lead
ership to foreshadOw some policy for
the capitalization of public sentiment
in directing State affairs, but the
Memphis Avalanche comes to:COl.
Patterson's defense with the sugges
ton to the Times that: "The gov
ernor of a State is not the laW-mak-
ing power, neither is he in position
to shape policies He may recon-
mend measures to the legislature, but
such recommendation carries with it
no authority to influence the legisla-
ture.
So far as Col. Patterson is con-
cerned, there is not the slightest
danger of his attempting to arrogate
to himself powers that do not belong
to the Office he seeks.
He is thoroughly familiar
with the affairs of the State, and the
needs of the people, and will, as gov
ernor, be able to make valuable sug-
gestians to the legislature"
Really, according to the Avalanche
the governor has but, very little or
nothing to do, and any good county
magistrate would do well enough
for governor. But, says the Ava
lanche, Mr.. Patterson is familiar with
the needs of the people, and twill, as
governor, be able to make some vaua-
BILE suggestions to the legislature. !"
Then why not make these valuable
suggestionsas regards the needs in
advance, while engaged in canvassing
the State that the people may form
some idea OF the benefits to be de-
rived, and elect a legislature on a
well-defned platform that will sus-
tain his valuable suggestions in pro
curing the needs of the people?
The LEAF-CHRoNICLE fully agrees
with the Gallatin Examiner that
the people of Tennessee should de
mand of candidates soliciting their
votes for governor and the legislature
that they pretermit the discussion of
national politics and devote their
time exclusively to home, State ques-
tons, which are OF immediate in
terest to the people, and let the can
didates for congress and the press
discuss national affairs. We have i'm
portant local questions that the peo-
pie should be informed about and
have some well planned policy. Such
as road laws, public schools, reduC-
ton of taxes, assessmen 3, reform in
criminal laws, the pCnitentiary, the
floating debt, which has been crea
ted by this "no policy idea, and
many other important questions.
Suppose a farmer starts out to make
a crop without any policy,as to which
field he will plant in wheat, corn,
tobacco or cotton, the number Of
horses or mules necessary to cult
yate il, the necessary implements, etc.
could he make any calculation of
the outcome? just SO with State
affairs, and this is the way the State
is being managed the governor
should take the lead in shaping State
policy, but the people don't know
what is to be done. Let us have
some policy.