The Columbia herald. [volume] (Columbia, Tenn.) 18??-1935, 1908-07-03
DUTY OF DEMOCRATS.

terson was trying TO play double on
the LIQUOR question. 1t will be re-
called that from every stump the Gov
ernor declared in stenorian terms that
he was mo more the friend of the
liouor men than Senator Carmaek.
While personally opposed to State
wide prohibition, he declared that he
would accept the nomination upon a
Statewide prohibition platform and
would sign such an act if the Demo
cratic party should in its convention
endorse it. At the same time, now
ever the Governor promised the IL
amor interests that he would take care
that no such declaration was placed
in the platform in the event OF his
nomination. But this promise he was
very careful to keep from his temper
anC6 IrlSHuS III Tic
Now, however, the Governor is NOV
ing heaven and earth, working with
all the desperation of the most fran
tic saloon keeper in the State to keep
a prohibition plank out of the plat
form. He must keep inviolate his
agreement with the liquor forces else
his campaign fund in the coming con-
test will be less plethoric than it was
in the recent debauchery. Not only
this but he is desperately determined
to keep out of the platform every re-
form for which Mr.. Carmack had con-
tended in the recent contest and TO
which the Governor was committed
in his first campaign.
If Gov. Patterson is allowed to write
the platform, and this is the first time
in the history of Tennessee where 1t
was boldly alleged that the Democrat
ic party had sunk to such depths OF
degradation that it's representatives
were deemed unworthy and incomp9
tent to perform that duty, it will re-
pudiate every principle for which the
hest Democrats in the State have con-
tended. It will be against a manda-
tory primary law; it will favor a fur
Their strengthening of the machine; 1t
will only in the most vague manner, II
at all, promise reform in the election
laws: it will be against justice to the
farmers by opposing an amendment
of the Jarvis Jaw, and the so-called
temperance plank will be written by
whisky soaked machine politicians.
Senator Carmack entered the con-
test for Governor against his own in
clination. He had no ambition to
serve the people in that capacity. IL
was only in answer to the demands OF
thousands of the best Democrats IN
the State-the Old Guard which asks
no favors of government and has no
interest in government save to see
that it is honestly and economically
administered; its laws enforced and
its mandates respected,-that Senator
Carmack agreed to lead the forces OF
reform. His contest was one for GER
tain great principles the abandonment
NJ which means the destruction OF the
Democratic party. 1t was not a con-
test for Office The office was merely
an incident to the campaign.
If the Democratic party expects to
have the confidence and enjoy the es-
TEEN of a majority of the white peo'
pie of Tennessee it must be true TO
principle. 1t cannot afford to abdicate
everything for which it has struggled
through a century of glorious history
at the dictation of merciless machine
resting alone upon greed for office and
the perpetuity of the liquor traffic, The
party must have better foundation
or its torn and desecrated label Will
lose its efficacy.
Those who love the grand old party
will see to it that the County Com
mittees at their meetings next Tues
day elect men as delegates who will
stand firm for the principles of the
marty; delegates determined to write