Herald and tribune. [volume] (Jonesborough, Tenn.) 1869-current, 1896-09-30
A Word to Bob.

ION recommending Vur DOD, IOr
Governor in 1S96,n and "for United |
States Senator in 1899, (which is circu-
lated in East Tennessee is not circu-
lated as freely in Middle Tennessee.
The idea of making a third term of the
Governorship stepping stone to the
Senate will hardly be popular in this
division of the State. The stepping
stone Governorships idea is one which
does not suit the States present ex-
tremity.
There is another idea which Mr.. Tay-
lor should disabuse his mind of. That
is the notion when seems to possess
him that all the State needs is Gov
ernor who is for the free aud unlimited
coinage of silver by the United States
Government at ratio of 10 to /, inde-
pendent of all other nations and all
other considerations. We published
one of Mr., Taylor's speeches the other
day. 1t was mere spouting about the
free coinage of silver and the election
of Bryan, with anecdotes thrown in to
to break the monotony. Mr.. Taylor
may think this the popularest way to
catch votes, but by combining himself
to national subject with which
Governor has nothing whatever to do
he is showing himself incapable of
grasping the grave and pressing issues
which cry for attention and remedy in
the State.
1t was truly said by Chairman Car.
roll that Tennessee is the worst govern
ed State in the Union. Tennessee needs
a Governor who will seriously, indus
triously and intelligently devote him.
self to the work of improving the Gov
ernment of the State, not one who is
after some other Office and who wants
to use the gubernatorial Office as
stepping stone, nor one who gives all
his attention to free and unlimited
silver. The Federal Government will
take care of the money question. What
we want in Tennessee is reform in
State affairs. Tennessee has suffered
incalculably foryears for want of Gov.
ernors that would really and earnestly
endeavor to promote needed State re-
forms. The people of the State have paid
millions of dollars in tribute money
to the fee grabbers. The taxpayers of
the State have paid millions of dollars
in interest upon bonded debt, to re-.
duce which no serious effort has been
made. 1t is fact, and a crying shame,
that affairs in Tennessee have been
allowed to drift from bad to worse,
without any vigorous effort on the part
of the executive or the leebiative de-
partment to correct evfg which all
right minded people condemn, OF to
prevent criminal extravaganza which
impoverishes the commonwealth. 1t
is high time to give attention to the
miserable condition of State affairs.
The State of Tennessee is in de-
plorable condition, Mr.. Taylor. 1t is
suffering from extravaganza, extortion,
the fee usufruct and general demorali-
cation. An extraordinary session of
an extraordinary legislature has been
called to try to bridge over some of the
difficulties. The tax rate must be
raised or the State will be bankrupt
The real trouble lies beneath the threat
ened deficiency. Machine politics and
cheap john politicians haye been run
ming things to the devil. What do you
propose to do about these things, Mr..
TaylorP What do you propose to do
that you didn't do when you were for
two terms GOVERNOR Do you propose
simply to SIT in the chair Of the execu-
tive third time and sing Hang Up
the Fiddle and the Bow" spout free
coinage of silver and hurrah for Bryan?
Tennessee is greatly in need of a
Governor, Mr.. Tay ylor-a Governor who
has head on him and who will de-
votedly and laboriously give his talents
and energies to the work of helping re-
lieve the State of burdens that weigh
her down. What sort of Governor
do you propose to make next timer In
the name of common sense, Mr.. Taylor,
quit spouting free silver and talk about
State issues. You know nothing about
the free silver question; you do moi
even understand fairly we'll your ow n
side of it. Your free silver speech
"gives you away" You haven't time
to study the money question; you
ought to take time to study the needs oi
the State. We fear you have moi
profited by the two terms of your weak
and inefficient administration. The
reforms the people need now were
needed when you were uovernor. What
remedies have you to suggest for oul
third termp What new forces of reso
luton, of knowledge, Of application
and of capability can you bring into
another term to overcome the influ
ences of the machine. You might how
of free silver till doomsday, but thu
outrageously burdensome crimina
court system would 60 on, the fec grab
bers would contine to draw their spoil
of office, and tho machine, which flour
ishes on the fee system, would maintain
its power.
Drop your foolish free silver gush
Robert. That's all sham. You couldn
do anything for free coinage as Gov
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