The comet. (Johnson City, Tenn.) 1884-1916, 1906-01-25
Where the Reward Belongs.

The Chattanooga Times is usually a
fair paper, and the Ochs Brothers, who
control its destinies and shape its poll
ciep, have stood for clean, wholesome
government and an emphatic rendering
unto each man the things that are his
We are moro than surprised, therefore,
to see the Times engaged in deter
mined and persistent effort to filch lau-
rels from the brow of Hon. M. r. Pat
terson and hand them over to Gov. Cox.
The Times says:
"Friends of ballot reform in Tennes
see who have under great obstacles
and most discouraging circumstances
labOred and importuned for better con
ditions will regret that so good mar
as Judge Bond should appear as an OBJ
structionist at this time, when the
prospects Of a successful conclusion t
their crusade had just appeared il
sight. II for no other reason, Gov
Cox is entitled to the approval and in
dorsement of the people because h
stands for placing the responsibilit!
! for election results more nearly upol
the people themselves.
| Undoubtedly there have been man
who have labored for ballot reforms il
Tennessee, but Gov. Cox has not bee
one Of the laborers in this field. o
the contrary, he has been shoulder I
shoulder with those responsible for th
"great obstacles and most discouragin
circumstances" mentioned by theTimC
as being in the way of ballot reform
There is nothing in the governors n
cord that shows that he ever did lie
of work in the interest of pure ele'
tions, and his jump in this direction
this late hour, after Mr.. Patterson hi
removed the "great obstacles and mo
discouraging circumstances, is as ran
q trespass upon the property of his o.
. ponent as was ever witnessed in Il
, political game.
We commend Mr.. Patterson's pla
, form and his consistency to evel
s plank in it TO the favorable consider
tion OF the Times. We call attentit
to Gov. Cox's questionable connectiC
with the occasion of Judge Bonds ca
didacy. We show his readiness
| change sides under fire, and we su
NIT, from the circumstances connects
with these two events, the govern
: has shown that politics and not prin,
pie is his guiding star.
We believe when the Times takes
second and more comprehensive al
& fairminded view Of the situation it W
Il acknowledge that Mr.. Patterson
Z more responsible than any other o
. man in Tennessee for giving the peoT
O "the prospects of successful concl
a sion to their crusade" for honest eli
4 tions. Therefore, as there are laur'
q to bestow, because Of this prospe
6 they undoubtedly belong to Mr.. p
0 terson-not to the governor, who aba
~ doned his election law position und
a the fire Of the very man the Times {
g spoils in order to crown the deserter
8 1t is not an enviable position t
= Times has taken. It is we'll enough
: receive the penitent into the fold, /
II there is no justice in delivering il
= his hands the property of the good 81
% want whose ability brought about I
confession of penitence. Yet this
2 where the Times stands in it's attem
10 to hand over to Cox the honors belor
20 ing to Patterson. It is as if the Tin
70 approved the work OF Patterson,
8 would give the fruit to Cox, which
II something quite out of place with p
conceived ideas of service and rewa
10 and decidedly out of the line with
usual fairness of the Times. -Memp
o Commercial-Appeal.
16 -
10 Middle Tennessee the Rattle GPOnnd