The Columbia herald. [volume] (Columbia, Tenn.) 18??-1935, 1906-09-21

upon which honest. practical legisla-
ton on this subject can be accomplish
ed. If the wisdom and experience Of
the past and the example Of the pres
ent are valuable, they teach of the
lesson that compulsory prohibition is
lamentable failure, and that prohi-
bition based on the will Of the people
has resulted in incalculable good. No
Democrat can escape the obligation of
the principle of selfgovernment, and
no one save the novice or extremist
viii pretend that such law can be en-
forced against public sentiment.
To extend the four mile law to all
the cities of Tennessee, without regard
to the views or win of the people, as
declared by the Republican platform.
aside from it's manifest insincerity,
would result in more evils than could
be suppressed, and would threaten all
temperance legislation with insecur-
fty and confusion. The original four
mile law and the present Adams law
are both sustained by public senti-
ment, which is the all-powerful factor
in their successful enforcement.
Acting upon the Democratic theory,
and what l understand to be the
meaning of the Democratic platform,
I would approve law passed by the
legislature leaving it to the vote of the
people Of the larger cities where II
uuor is now sold to say whether or
not they want the Adams law extend
ed. Or l would approve, as governor,
the extension of the Adams law to the
larger cities of the state. If the dele
cations from these cities representing
the people recommended the exten.
sion. as was invariably done in abol-
ishing charters of towns under the
Adams law. II the question was left
by the legislature to the people to
determine and they should vote II
ouor out Of any city or cities where II
is now sold, would, as governor Of
Tennessee, approve any measure that
would carry out their expressed
will on this subject, even though II
meant complete prohibition in the
state. Or If the legislature should BY
lar attempt to regulate and contro
the liquor tFafic by any other regula
: ton ieeking to It's restriction. short o
, compulsory prohibition; / would, al
: governor. approve sii6h legislation.
u have stated with great care ant
particularly my views, based apof
the Democratic platform, so that here
: after there may be no misunderstood
/ ing or misconstruction of them. ex
! cept by those who win refuse to un
( derstand, or those whose purpose i
: always to misc0nstrue.
| It is matter of general sommen
( not only in Tennessee, but elsewhere
that the temperance laws now on thu
, statute books of the state are proba
bly, the best that have been devised
: In any state Of the Union, and whil'
) there are occasional violations, as w
must expect of all laws, yet In tn
main they are generally observed, ant
the result has. been to decfeas'
4 drunkenness, vice and crime whereV
! er the law has been applied. Thi
: has been accomplished not so nue.
+: on account Of the laws themselves, a
s the healthy public sentiment whicl
a demanded the laws, and which ma
!, sustained them.
e The original four mile law and a.
J, Of the amendments thereto,inciudin
+ the Adams law. which bears the nam
e Of a Democratic senator, are OF Den
! ocratic origin, and were the work 9
Democratic legislatures and met Tn
# approval Of Democratic governors
J These laws were enacted to meet 70
y demands Of the people, SO that mo-
5 in every town In Tennessee OF S'oO
people or under the sale OF liquor ma
q been declared Illegal. This recor
il should give confidence to the peopl
/, az the state and be a guarantee :
Il them that no Democratic legislator
+ viii ever attempt to interfere with tn
i. laws now nnon the statnte heeAs,7 es
IS will maintain them as they have bee
II written. 1t is further guarantee tina
t, in all future legislation on this sui
IS iect, the Democratic party can D
l. safely trusted. -
e scontest--Turley Vs. Evans. IS
But Mr.. Evans says, and his friend
l. claim that he was once elected COVE
y nor Of Tennessee Isdeng Il and %
n decision Of the legislature, the trib'
n nal having jurisdiction to determin
= the question, has decided the contr'
d versy against him. AS the claim na
n