The comet. (Johnson City, Tenn.) 1884-1916, 1905-10-19
gen. PATTERS0N'S SPEECH
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lLN. FRllLnlUH } NEEln
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estly and the corporations WHO de-
bauch legislatures for fayors and I
exemptions, should be- treated as pub
lie outlaws. 4a
To corporations, as such, / have not
the slightes hostility. They, have done
q wonderful work ii the upbnilding of
the country and the betterment of the
conditions OF human happiness. They
are entitled to just treatment, and
should not be made the prey Of the
designing, and ifI-weFe Governor, and |
a bill was presented fer my approval,
which ] believed was the result of
unreasonableppeiaaiSe against tbemy / |
should veto it as quickly as any other
measure of like character.
But the corporations Of the State
shouldkeep ont ofspolitics, aud il they
do moi, they. will one dayy6nd their
mistake They have no right to eon-
trollegislation. They are the servants,
not the masters of the people
II the corporations of. Tennessee de-.
sire only fair treatment they can have
no objection to me. If they want a
Governor they can use, and who will
do their bidding, they must look else4
where for candidate. II I am elected
Governor, I shall be- neither for nor
against eerporatioiF, bat wilt try to-
see, so far ss lies jim ny powgrs that
they shalld.have jast Treatment, sbnti
that they shall be compelled to respect
the rights of the people.
What more could honest corporate
interests ask? NJ "a "
What Tess should be demanded by
the people?
Temperance Irdfs1AgoN,s
/ On the Question of temperate legis-
lations the people of Tennessee are
entitled to my views in manner that
will admit of no evasion or doubt as to
my meaning. for 1t is one in which
they are extremely interested. 1t is 8
cardinal Democratic doctrine that the
people havea right todecide for them
selves what they what they do or do
not want, and / believe in, applying
this principle to, the sale. Of liquor 81
to all other questions. What is known
as the "AdBms law" was passed in
1908, and it extends the operation OF
previous legislation to towns of 5000
population. This law has given entire
satisfaction to the people of the loeali-
ties affected by it. They do not wish
it disturbed in any way. am in favor
of UNFOLDING this law without altera-
tion, as it is written on the statute
books. IL has had fair trial, and has
demonstrated its wisdom and use
fitness.
The Adams law has proved bless.
ing to the communities affected by it,
and | have no doubt its extension
would tend to decrease vice and crimes
SO prevalent in the large cities.
I understand that the practice of the
Legislative ia abolishing charters under
the Adams law SO as to prevent the
sale OF liquor when the towns reincorp
Grated was to take the recommends
tion Of the Representative as express
ing 4he will of the people,
This preserved in substance, tht
principle Of self-goyernment.
In such cases the sentiment OF the
people was easily ascertained. Very
often there was no division OF all, and
the legislation thus enated invariably
reflected the popular will.
However, in the larger cities, where
the population is much greater and not
so homogeneous, the Legislature might
have more difficulty in applying this
rule.
| In case where there IS only one
member of the Legislature represent
ing q constituency, and he advocates
the adjustment OF a charter, there is
no sort of difficulty; but where a
county is represented by number Of
Representatives, and sometimes by two
Senators, the question presents new
lphase, which should be understood
and considered.
I In this sort OF case, If all the dele
gates agreed on the abolisment of q
charter then the right and duty Of the
1 Legislature would be clear. But if
the members and Senator's were div d I'D
claiming on each side to represent
the wishes Of the people the situation
would be confusing. In this event |
think before the law should be extend
ed the Legislature should have some
definite guide by which to determine