The Columbia herald. [volume] (Columbia, Tenn.) 18??-1935, 1902-02-21
THE DEMOCRATIC PLATFORM.

OuT uedI Otu fdCllldtlIk lAicuu u
Nashville American won { say it an
more. 1t said once. in an unguarde'
moment perhaps. that ''the towns an
cities of Tennessee are entitled to self
government. - But that was the rasl
assumption of an irresponsible sub
ordinate. no doubt-to use an expires
sion first coined by the American. A
least the self government" theor,
did not mix well with the morning
cocktail of the power that controls the
utterances of that sometimes garrulous
and then again exceedingly cautious,
old reprobate, and not a word has il
said ON the subject since. The whiskey
men. you will observe, are pursuing
the silent policy, ard campaigning on
the still hunt plan. They are hunting
''good men" Good save the mark
to champion their unrighteous cause,
and hope to steal the legislature on the
quiet. And they may succeed; owing
to two facts: They have political
sagacity, and the temperance people
have none and they work, while the
temperance people talk. And there is
deal more result from work than
there is from talk.
But coming back to our interesting
and variegated friend the American,
once more. That paper, answering the
Knoxville Sentinel, saws:
The difficulty is that the constuti-
tional convention discussion is not per-
tinent. The American is considering
conditions. The people are lukewarm
on the subject of constitutional re-
vision. For this reason we think
no affirmative stand will be taken con-
corning a new Constitution in the
Democratic platform. But what will
be in the PLATFORM Here is question
OF Importance and one it is profitable
to discuss. The hist ry of legis-
lation in Tennessee is that solons will
not act unless instructed. Let us take
time by the forelock and instruct them
on these important points. Let us
elect Legislature that will be some
thing for Tennessee.
We agree so heartily with the Ameri-
can along this line, that we should like
to encourage it's titful effort to do right |
The constitutional convention question
is not pertinent, and should not be in
jected into the discussion. Truly per-
tinent questions and conditions
should be considered. ''What will be
in the PLATFORM" That indeed sis
question of Importance, and one
profitable to discuss. 1t is true as
a rule, that ''solons will not act unless
instructed. The same ''solors'
get their instructions
from the people, but more often from
the whiskey ring and corporation
lobbyists after they reach Nashville.
1t is capital good idea, therefore.
as the American suggests, to take
time by the forelock, and instruct
them upon important points, and to
select a Legislature that will be some
Thing for Tennessee.
II the American will only stick to
It's text, and discuss pertinent ques-
lions and conditions, . for the instruc- {
ion of the public, it can do much I
rood We need not fall out if we can ,
lot agree. Let us have discussion, i
Ind let the people judge of the merits G
# our cause. Good roads are impor-
ant factors in the development of the a
country. An operative and effective b
log law would unquestionably promote L
md encourage the sheep industry. a
But can our contemporary consider e
hese more pertinent questions for i
discussion. than the liquor traffic? v
And would it not be well to take n
ime by the forelock and instruct our n
olons" against the saloons2 s.
The American seems more concerned g
Or the sheep than it does for the boys "
be dogs than of the saloons. 1t il
magines that it wants to discuss per- il
nent, live issues, when in truth it is n
fraid to, and when put to the test side al
.acks on dogs and such like. The a
iggest, broadcast, Invest, most peril A
emit issue in Tennessee politics today ii
le only question upon which the G
State convention is likely
quarrel and differ, is the right of
WINS and cities to local self-govern be
emit in the regulation and control Of sh
% liquor, traffic. And upon this ques- pl
on, the American refuses to speak. -
OF only refuses to express any opinion =
its own, but utterly ignores the
,estion by refusing to give in its
'ws columns any expression OF
Union Of others. This is discussing
pertinent questions and seeking
instruct upon important points,
It'll a vengeance.