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


they wanted TO. And We defend the
right Of the legislature to pass that
general law, upon this ground. ne
auasriou 4 an issue il Tennessee poi
tics; from one end of the Stale 70
taa cher. il Is the paramount ques-
tim and the legislature TO be cleo
Ted will be elected upon that question
and therefore a majority Of that iegis-
tarure voting according TO their IN
.trucfions. fresh from the people
uould not only have a perfect right
hut the responsible duty would devolve
mon them, to decide for the State at
large whether or not and to what ex-
tent the Adams Law should be ex-
tended.
As elsewhere in the State the tenn
perance Democrats of this county and
senatorial district and making the
Agbt for the extension OF
the Adams Law to the en-
tire State. and then for special
local legislation placing Columbia and
MI Pleasant under the operations OF
that law. And if they. (the temper
anca Democrats) succeed in organ
izing the convention, they will adopt
plank embodying that idea, and IN
struct their nominees accordingly.
We say in the beginning OF this ar
ticls that Mr.. Patterson's speech was
more for temperance than the temper
anee men expected; and that is true.
And vet it is but fair to say that that
was not Mr.. Patterson's fault. In his
opening speech in Nashville last Oct
ober, he expressed the same senti-
ments in substantially the same Ian
guage. In that speech, last OCTOBER
Mr.. Patterson said:
ION the question Of temperance
LEGISLATION the people Of Tennessee are
entitled to my views in manner tnat
will admit of no evasion or doubt as
TO my meaning, for it is one in which
they are extremely Interested. IL 10
cardinal Democratic doctrine that
the people have a right to decide Tor
themselves what they do or do not
want, and | believe in applying the
nrinciple to the sale Of liquor as to
all other questions. What is known
as the Adams law was passed In
1906 and it extends the operation OF
previous legislation to towns OF 5000
population. This law has given en-
tire satisfaction to the people OF the
localities affected by it. They do not
wish IL disturbed In any way.
II am in favor of upholding this law
without alteration as It is written on
the statute books. 1t has had a fair
trial and has demonstrated its wis
dom and usefulness.
"The Adams law has proved bless
ing to the communities affected by IT,
and 7 have no doubt its extension
would tend to decrease vice and
crime so prevalent in large cities
II understand that the practice OF
the legislature in abol1shing the char'
ters under the Adams law, so as 10
preyent the sale of liquor when the
towns re-fncorporated was to take rec
ommendation of the Representative as
EXPRESSING the will of the people. This
preserved. insubstance, the principle
of self-government.
in such cases the sentiment OF the
people was easily ascertained. Very
often there was no division at all, and
the legislation thus enacted invari'
ably reflected the popular VIII.
,"However in the larger cities, where
the population is much greater and
not so homogeneous, the legislature
might have more difficulty in apply
ing this rule.
"In cases where there is only one
member of the Legislature represent
ing a constituency, and he advocates
the adjustment of charter, there Ii
no sort Of difficulty; but where
county is represented by number o
representatives, and sometimes D'
two Senators. the question presents
a new phase, which should be under
stood and considered.
I'm this sort of case II the delegates
agreed ON the adjustment OF a cnar
ter then the right and duty OF tn'
legislature would be clear. But =
the members and the Senator'S wers
MISUNDERSTANDING on each side tosrep
resent the wishes of the peopie-tn'
situation would be confusing. In tni
event would think before the ia'
should be extended the Legislature
should have some definite guide o.
which to determine its action SO a
not to act arbitrarily, either for Q
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