The Columbia herald. [volume] (Columbia, Tenn.) 18??-1935, 1900-04-13
McMILLIN A MENACE TO DEMO-
CRATIC SUCCESS.

CRATIC SUCCESS.
The Hon. Benton McMlllin, the
double barrel candidate for Cover
nor and Senator, were it left to time
and a fair chance, would not get
either. 1t is our honest summing up
of the whole situation that there is
no man in Tennessee politics to-day
whom the people would more de.
light to retire to the quiet of private
life, than this same gentleman who
wants everything in sight.
But the trouble growing out of the
situation is, that McMillin's COM
mittee, more mindful of the greedy
ambition Of one man than of the
best interest of the Democratic
party, have called a snap conven-
tion at an early date, to make inn
practicable the candidacy Of any
new aspirant for Governor. 1t is
virtually foregone conclusion,
therefore, that the nomination will
he given to the only man who is ask
ing for it.
But it should not be so. He is not
the choice of the people, and he will
weak en- the ticket to the danger point
He Is not popular either in or out of
the Democratic ranks, and the pref
udice against his double barrel
candidacy is so pronounced and
grounded upon reasoning so sound
that a strong man and well con-
Quoted campaign by the RApubli
cans, would give them an equal II
not better chance for success.
These are potent facts. The press
all over the state is talking it. Party
leaders know and fear it, and the
rank and file of the party are dis
satisfied and discouraged by it.
The people want to know who
they are voting for for Governor
They don't want 20 and many OF
them will not vote for a man who
they know will not use the office fol
their good, but to further his own
ambitious schemes. The people are
not prepared yet to give up the pri'
vilege of electing their own Cover
nor, and RELOCATING it to the State
Senate. They are not willing thai
this high and important Office should
be given a man to be traded off fol
something he thinks higher and
better. They want the honor con
ferred upon man who esteems it
and the business of the office in the
keeping of one who regards it as 8
sacred trust, not to be traded off oil
contemptuously cast aside.
The situation Is serious, and al
uninstructed convention, undel
these peculiar circumstances, coulC
more nearly do the wise and bes
thing, than a convention instructed
against the peoples real wishes.
Democracy" writing upon thi'
subject says:
"In this connection we make al
extract below from privat,
letter received from one of tn,
ablesT and most distinguishe
Democratic leaders in the Stat,
"a man who held high pc
sitiops of honor and trust; and al
ways with credit to himself, tn,
State, the Nation, and the peopl,
who have rallied to his support al
often as the opportunity presented
Here is what he says:
There never was in Tennessee
man big enough to elect himsel
Cover nor and to the Senate after de
claring himself candidate for both
and If the attempt Is made now, tn,
State may be placed in great doubt.
And the Obion Democrat, one o
thu staunchest and best editet
Democratic papers in the state, says
Governor McMillin has lost
great many friends by his activ,
candidacy for Governor and his re
ceptive candidacy for the Senate
We do not call to mind a speech b.
public man so barren of sounC
political sense as that delivered b!
the Governor at Pulaski. In GU
opinion, It was the same as poo
politics, to make no harsher crit
cism. In addition to this, the Stat
Executive Committee, a majority o
which are friends of Mr.. McMillin
met last week ard called the conven
tion in May. The reason for this /
plain. 1t is too late for other Dem ,
Gratis to enter the race, so when tn
convention meets MIR. McMillin will
be re-nOminated for Governor ant
can then turn his attention to hi
other race-the Senate. This ma,
be smart politics, but there ar
times when the people rebel and /
turns out to be poor po'itIcS and yer,
hurtful to the proposed benficiar.
OF such methods.
There are several strong reason
why this double-barrel andldaey /
distasteful to the people. One !
that IL shows a disregard for tn
high office Of Governor. Its ten