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

TEMPERANCE LEGISLATION.
Mr.. Patterson's speech in Nashville,
to be frank about It. Is in nearer ac-
cord with the Views Of the temperance
wing Of the party, than we had expect
ed It to be. On local matters. there
seems to be very little II indeed any
difference; Mr.. PatteTson's idea be-
ing, that where the people Of
any community express themselves
in any way, either by direct vote, or
by instruction to their representa-
tives. or even without instructions
should their representatives be unan-
imously In favor Of It, that the said
community has the right to relieve
itself of the harmful presence of the
Saloon by legislative enactment, and
that as Governor he would approve
any and all such bills. Mr.. Patterson
thinks that where there has been no
instructions to the representatives,
and wherethe people have in no man
ner expressed themselves, and the
representatives are divided, then IT
would be more democratic and proper
to refer the matter to the people that
a majority might decide which Of its
representatives reflected their will,
the one for the saloon, or the one
against It. Recognizing by that course
IL. = u1If .OnrynrnUanf
That is not as far as some Of the
temperance people would have him go.
Some Of them would have the legisla-
ture wipe the saloons out Of
all towns alike. But Mr.. Pat
terson's position is conserva-
tive, and democratic, and goes as far as
many Of the best temperance people
are willing to go. For those who have
studied the question most carefully, do
not want to outrun public sentiment,
and do not think It wise or best to
attempt to force prohibition upon any
community unless majority OF the
people of that community want it; or
at least majority Of the white peo-
pie of the community.
For our part, we believe in local
self.government; we believe In home
rule; and we believe, barring the dis
solute, depraved, purchasable vote, In
the rule of the majority In all things
In some West Tennessee towns,
where the negroes are In the majority
we think a majority of the white dem
ocrats ought to control. In Maury
county, where the white democrats
pay practically all the taxes and con
troll everything else, and where the
large majority of the white republi
cans and not few of the better class
of colored republicans are known to
be against the saloon, we believe that
an expression of the will OF the peo
ME at a democratic primary should
control. And Mr.. Patterson says prac
tically the same thing; for he says
that where the representatives are
agreed" he will approve the Dill;
and he knows, Of course, that tine
representatives" of the people are
nominated and elected, in most cases
in this state, not by majority OF the
people, but by a majority OF the
white Democrats. So upon that ques
ton there does not seem to be any DIFF
ference OF much consequence between
Mr.. Patterson and the temperance
wing OF the Democratic party. MOI
enough to keep any Temperance Dem
ocrat from voting for him.
Upon the matter of general temper
ance legislation for the State, we &C
not agree with Mr.. Patterson. His
platform Is ambiguous, and he gives
one construction to 1t, while we give
another. He thinks that general Dill
extending the Adams law to the stats
at large, should not be passed; w
think the general law should be pass
ed To extend the law to the entire
State does not put any town unde
the operations of the law. 1t onl'
gives the people of all the towns an
cities the right to get under the law
they want to. The general law woul