The Columbia herald. [volume] (Columbia, Tenn.) 18??-1935, 1905-11-10
THE MORAL OF 1T.

The election of Mr.. jerome in New
York, is a victory for good morals, good
government and good men; it was a
defeat of boss rule and graft. The
people Iose up in arms against Tam
many ana Tammany methods. MI.
Murphy, Tammany's big chief. once
a day laborer at Sl5O per day cleaning
out the cutters OF New York. has
grown to be a very. very rich man.
where did he get it?" Mr.. Jerome
asked, In every cue of his speeches.
Murphy rose from the street sweep to
be political ward heller; then to be
ward captain of ward heeleTs. and
on up until he became Tamuany's
Boss. His lessons in statecraft he
learned from the cutters; his man
neIs from the bar rooms; his methods
from the thugs Every advancement
he made was a reward for corruptlng
the ballot; every dollar he owns Is
graft money, flched from the tax pay
ers of New York City. Every day the
New York American contained burly,
Geefy likenesses of Boss Murphy, with
the question, Where did he get it?'
Pity the people did not have second
Jerome to lead them In their Mayor
atty race. While they despsed Tam
many and Tammany methods, the
good people of New York could not
hiring themselves to the support of
Hearst the libertine and Hearst the
bIibe- giveI, and his methods. But
with even a man like Hearst. they ran
McClellan's majority down to the
narrow margin of three OF four thous-
and.
In Ohio the good government peo-
pie swept everything before them.
And the moral of it all is that the
people are q revolt against the stink
ing corruption in both of the two old
political parties. and are taking the
reins of government INTO their own
hands. And it is well that it is SO. |
It will not disrupt either of the old
parties, but it will improve botn of
them. 1t will bring better men to the
front; il will suggest and compel
cleaner methods; it will give the
people better government; it will stop
some of the so-called honest graft. =
which is but polite name for looting
the public treasury, and it will land
some Of the hooters behind the bars
with stripped clothes on.
Joe Folk started this tidal wave of
reform IN Missouri. 1t will sweep the
country before it Gains itself. and it's
good effects win last for generation
or two.
We hope Tennessee will begin today
to feel it's force. Memphis is in the
throes of a municipal election, the
people wrestling in death struggle
with the corrupt Joe Williams ring
In Memphis. Senator Carmack year
ago dealt this Williams crowd of ward
heelers and grafters their first knock
out blow but under the peculiar con-
ditions surrounding Memphis they
revived little anc are making an
other fierce fight to hold on to their 4
public CRAFTS. The wish may be father ]
to the thought, but we hope and be-
lieve that their DAYS are numbered, and {
their low, mean. corrupt rule is at an {
end. The best people of the town are {
aroused. Senator Carmack spoke to [
them last week. and set them on fire wi it'll
the enthusiasm of righteous cause
his life dared do)-to take sides for
the right where the battle was fierce I
and the result was in doubt. Whether VIC
tory or defeat awaits him the people '
of proud state like Tennessee will q
forever honor the name of the man
who has the conviction and the courage
to throw his political life into the bal :
ance to save his home city from the
corrupt rule of the low. the vulgar
and the mercenary.
One word of suggestion: Ii the ;
good governemnt people win in Mem. 7
phis today. the Democratic party had ;
better take warming; 1t will be very
unsafe move for them to nominate
either Cox or Patterson. The people h
of Tennessee do not want Mr.. Cox IS n
their Governor; they do not admire n
him; they do not believe in him.
Patterson would be even more objec 4
tionasle. He is leading the gamblers
and thugs and Sunday tipplers of
Memphis today, The Republicans 2
are watching the situation closely 6
East Tennessee is and has &
always been the temperance gibraltar 3
Of the State. If the Democrats NOM y
mate Cox or Patterson. the Republicans y
will nominate Fl. Clay Evans, or z
Foster V. Brown, or Z. T. Sanford. on 3
/ good government, temperance plat y
'orm; and apt as not Tennessee would