The Columbia herald. [volume] (Columbia, Tenn.) 18??-1935, 1903-04-24
KEEP UP The BATTLE FOR tenn
PERANCE, SAYS c. 7. HUGHES.
Agitate and Continue to Agtate For the Four
Mile Extension.-Columba Should Keep
Up It's Appeal Until Our Cry Is Heard
All Over the State.

Editor Herald
IL nav not be uninteresting to Your
readers for us 10 consider the net
results Of :he legislation by me last
General Assembly, so far as Ii affects
the whiskey traffic.
Tue only act passed by that body
except some of minor Importance on
tins subject was The one extending
the operation of the four mile law
to any town with population moi
exceeding live thousand. This act was
the legitimate offspring of the PeeleT
Bill. passed at previous session, ana
il was this last mentioned Dill winch
having obtained the sanction or the
court of last resort to Its constltn-
tlonality, made local option in this
form possibility in the state
That the people were and are back
of the Adams law, that they were
demanding its passage is proven by
the fact that within forty days from
its passage every town In the state
but four which could do so. have
availed themselves of the option al
lowed And that too, with unanlm-
ity of sentiment IN the various towns
that was surprising; in some Instances
with scarcely a dissenting vote; III
nearly all, with overwhelming ma
1orlties. Such a state of the public
mind was not begotten by the bill
itself; but the bill was rather the
result of this pre- existing CONDITION
and for the legislature TO have dlsre-
garda ed this public demand would have
amounted almosl If not quite to
treason.
Again the bill was not a party
measure. The Republican party de
| clared in its platform unequlvocally
| fol the extension of the Peeler Oil 10
towns of five thousand or less. And
the democratic party, without reserva-
ton, declared in favor of the doctrine
of local self government. ceciafa-
tion. which whilst il allowed such men
as Ledgerwood, Norteet, Peak anu
Thompson who appear to be under the
hypnotic influence of the Whlskey
Ring to construe 1t to suit them
selves vet was understood by the
great mass OF the democratic voters as
an expression of the party that each
town and community should be per-
mitted to say whether it would allow
whiskey sold within its limits. Not
themselvs, but it is fact that without
regard to the political complexion OF
the towns they have accepted the
benefits of the act. And 1t Is also
fact that it was only by the com
bned votes Of both democrats and re-
publicans that the law was placed on
the statute books.
In view of these facts it is a matter
of surprise that certain of our demo
cratic leaders should all at once nave
been inspired with fear that the
success of the Democratic party would
be imperiled If further Temperance
legislation were not INSTRUCTED ana
prevented. And Mr.. Thompson, the
Chairman of the State Democratic
Executive Committee, if not In Nash
Willie for the purpose, was at least
present lending his influence, together
with Mr.. Speaker Tyson, who left his
sneakers chair to better exert his
covers of persuasion with his fellow
members-and prominent democrats
urging them for the sake OF the party to
prevent further extension of the four
mile law to towns of more than five
thousand.
And singularly enough there were
leading Republicans emulating these
democrats In their efforts to accomplish
the same result, and, as we are told,
promising to Republican members the
support of the saloon men in electing
Republican representation it the Re-
publican members would JOIN IN the
effort to defeat what is known as the
Columbia Bill.
But it may be said of what value
are these reflections? Simply this they
disclose the insinceTity OF the men
who are defending the liquor interests !;
they are willing that their party shall
suffer, rather than that these interests
40 dear to them, should be imperilled.
What was the occasion for raising he
party cry on measure that was in
the spirit of the platform OF both
parties, ana was being supported by
men of both parties? Inc course
adopted was the very one calculated
TO MAKE 1T party issue, and since
such was the necessary result, we
cannot escape the conclusion, that
the question was raised to drive tlmid