The Columbia herald. [volume] (Columbia, Tenn.) 18??-1935, 1896-05-15

W. L. OMOH U DKO,
f. d. SIMS,
E. w. CARMACK.
Mr.. J. H. Malone, of Memphis, se-
cured the floor and argued in favor
Of a Constitutional Convention.
Mr.. Swaney, Of Chattanooga, also
argued in favor of a Constitutional
Convention.
A motion was made to lay the mi
nOrity report as to a Constitutional
Convention on the table. The mo-
ton prevailed.
Then the matter of a Railroad
Commission then came up, and it
also was defeated. The question
then required to the majority re-
port of the committee. The roll was
called and the vote taken by coun-
ties, and only 20 negative votes were
cast. Shelby county to the surprise
of everybody, voting in the affirma-
tive.
The next thing in order was to
nominate candidate for Governor.
Hon. Benton McMillon was recog-
nized and in speech of some length
placed the name of Robt. l.. Taylor
before the convention. Seconds
were heard Immediately from all
parts of the house. 1t was moved
that the nomination be made by ac-
clamation, and amid great enthusi-
asm the motion was put and carried
But this enthusiasm was nothing
as compared with the ovation given
the next Governor of Tennessee
when he entered the hall. The APP
plause was deafening, and the
demonstration was almost wild in
its abandon. Every man in the
house was standing up on the high
est pedestal he could find and near
ly every one was shouting and wav-
ing his hat or handkerchief.
When quiet had been partially re-
stored, it was exactly midnight.
Gov. Taylor said: "Mr. Chairman
and gentlemen of the Convention
My heart overtlows with gratitude
to the people of Tennessee for this
extraordinary expression of their
confidence and trust in me. | lay
down bright hopes and turn my
back on promises of personal fortune
in other fields and take once more
in my hand the banner of Democra-
cy and of the people. applause. :,
In accepting this sacred trust, | am
well aware of the responsibilities
which | am about to assume, and OF
the burden which l must bear. Fol
l know full we'll that the paths of
public duty, whether they lead tc
victory or to defeat, are bristling
with thorns, and he who reaches the
summit of popular preferment will
look down with longing eyes on the
humber plane of life below, anC
wish his sphere had never wandered
from it's warmer sunshine anC
sweeter flowers. We are in the
midst of trying times. We are con.
fronted with conditions which are
disturbing the peace and prosperity
of the whole country. These condi.
lions have wrought dissenslon anC
dlscord among party leaders and dis
satisfaction among the people
There is chaos and confusion every
where, and we are in the throes OF
great political commissions. The
purchasing power of money is in
creasing, while the prices of prop
erty and products are decreasing
In this land Of gold and silver there
is an eternal clamor for money tt
satisfy the tax gatherer and the
money lender, and to meet the ordi.
nary demands of life. God hal
blessed us with fruitful fields, bu
there is no ample market for thu
harvest. In this land of plenty
there is the blight of poverty an(
hard times, and we hear the cry o
labor begging for employment.
believe that the prime cause o
these conditions lie in the fact tina
we have departed from the true pol
icies of old-fashioned Democratic
government. The Constitution ha,
been thrown overheard, and we arr
drifting and straying into danger
GUS seas without compass. Their,
I is but one star to be seen through
the rifted clouds; there is but on,
hope for the republic. That star il
the intelligence of the people; tina
hope is an honest ballot.
IF our free institutions are to b.
perpetuated, we must come back t,
the pure, the simple form Of govern
ment which was bequeathed to u
by our fathers, for, in the adherence,
to the principles which are embed
led in this form of government, tn
safety of the Union must rest. Tn
combined wisdom of the worlt
could not improve upon these prin
ciples.
Through the inspiration of Coo
and the experience of the ages W,
must fight our way back to them
we must scourge corruption from
the ballot box; we must throttle
in the Hobbies, and drive it from on
Capitols, both State and Nationa,
! ANn lnnSt etnnL f.nr knnn-A LII 81 4