The commercial. (Union City, Tenn.) 190?-193?, 1904-09-16

ne ehanges and Whyl Can either sid
or any honest man trust a eandidat
who is willing to shift his position il
the hope Of deceiving the people an
getting votes? Does he think tn
platform Of his party was written t
hold the temperance Republican vote
and was his speech made to catch tn
Democratic anti-temperance vote. No
my countrymen, the gentleman mus
be either fish or fowl. He can not z,
through this campaign carrying waite
on one shoulder and liquor on tn,
other. II he is against all existing
temperance legislation when his party
said 1t was for it, the people are en-
titled to know it. II he is against tn,
Adams law, 20 be consistent he must
] II elected, recommend it's repeal. Viii
he do so? The people are entitled tc
know.
The honest Republicans who wrote
and adopted that platform are entitled
to know. Temperance sentiment and
legislation in Tennessee has been the
growth Of years and has not been con
fined to any one party. The four-mile
law was passed in 1877, and prohib-
tied the sale Of liquor except in incor.
pcrated towns. 1t was tried and it's
workings were approved by the PEG
PIE. In 1899, in obedience to an un-
mistakable popular demand, the four
mile law was extended and made to
apply to towns of 1000 population
which might thereafter be incorpor-
ated, leaving the people of those towns
to determine. by direct vote, or by the
vote OF their representatives if the
legislature was in session, to either
abolish their charters and make the
law apply or not, as they pleased.
This law stood and was tried for four
years. and seemed to. meet the APP
prevail Of the people.
In 1908, in obedience to the senti-
ment OF the people Of all parties, as
expressed in the votes of their repre-
sentatives, this law was amended and
extended to towns Of 5000 population,
which might thereafter be incorpor-
ated, leaving 1t, as in the old law, for
the people to abolish their charters
and make. the law apply, If they
pleased, by direct vote, except when
the Legislature is in session, and Their
as their representative might be in
structed by his constituency.
In the house sixty-nine Democrats
voted for the bin and eleven against
It. and twelve Republicans voted for 1t
and none against it. In the senate fl.
teen Democrats voted for 1t and twelve |
against it, and five Republicans voted |
FOR it and none against It, did not |
ecommend that bill and had nothing |
70 do with Its passage, and while ! |
have always been conservative and |
never an extremist upon these ques-
ions, and while l am not now and /
ever was prohibitionist, signed +
md approved that bill in obedience to
he will Of my party and Of the people
If Tennessee without reference to
'arty, and have no apology to offer
or 1t. | stand by the Adams law and
I'm opposed to its repeal. | am in
avor of giving 1t a fair and honest
rial. When we have done this, if it
,roves to be a wise and beneficent
aw, all people will approve it. If it
'roves to be an unwise and an unjust
aw then the people can and will send
heir Representatives so instructed,
nd the Democratic party viii find a
ray to repeal It.
sra
The platform of my party declares
or this law. / am a Democrat, and
stand on that platform. If | could
ot conscientiously stand upon it. be-
ore would repudiate or abandon it, I
r any plank Of it, would withdraw !
rom the race and ask my party to ]
lace Its banner in the hands of some
Their man, who believed in ii and {
ould honestly stand upon its plat
1rm. | would not have the office of E
overnor il had to get 1t by false pre- I
enses and by repudiating the platform /
I'd principles which my party had !
litten and upon which was noHli- +
ated.
If there be one Democrat here who :
oes not approve of this legislation of
Is party, then say to him, we car q
OF always get all we want in q
ny party. But any Democrat can I
ct more than he wants in Ten. a
essee and in the nation through .
success than he can Z
trough Republican success. Let {
e say further, what can any Demo !.
at who does not approve Of this law h
ope for on this subject from the Re. +
iblican party? That party cast it's i
luminous vote for the law on its =
usage; declared for 1t in its plat i
rm, and in the next legislature will
and with its few votes solid against :
) repeal, and the Republican candi- :
tie for governor Is only webbing on =
q gudgeon with the hope of foolinr I,
me good Democrats and getting :,
Iough of their votes to place the Re. - y
Iblican party In power in Tennes-
e. MY Democratic friends, beware. :,
he Republican party is trying to sell !.
u a gold brick. -
But there is one charge made by
y competitor in hts opening speech, !.
hich | desire once for all to deny -
Id to brand as falsehood in every
le and implication. | do not charge y
w that my competitor knew that 1t y
as false when he made it. infer ~