The comet. (Johnson City, Tenn.) 1884-1916, 1908-05-21
From the NASHVILLE American.

From the Nashville American.
There are two candidates for govern
or of Tennessee now on the stump.
Neither was ever known as prohibl-
ZIONIST until one of them, Mr.. Carmack,
so declared few days ago Until then
leading whiskey men Of the state boast
ed that he had assured them that he
was never before known as prohlbl'
tionlst, that the liquor men regarded
him as their friend, and that it requir-
ed the most explicit statemement from
him as to his attitude on the question
to settle all doubt, leading officers OF
the anti Saloon League are his enthu'
siastic champions. If that organiZa-
tion has not yet indorsed him it will do
80. This reminds us that it indorsed
A candidate in 1905. His name was
Judge John r. Bond, and it indorsed
him December IA, after he had made
his opening speech as a candidate for
governor in Memphis, December o,
1905, in which, after reviewing temper
apce legislation in Tennesseee, he said;
81 would be glad to see the tour-mile
law in successful operation in Tennes-
see, but if elected governor l will not
recommend it's extension to the whole
state, because l do not believe that
under the conditions as they now exist
in the larger cities it could be enforced.
I will recommend the amendment OF
the four mile law 80 as to include with
in it's provisions all cities having pop
ulation of $4,000 and under that may
decide to surrender their charters and
to be reincorporated 80 as to avail
themselves of it's benefits. believe
this can be accomplished. would not
promise to do or try to do anything
that did not feel I could reasonably
hope to accomplish. And in cities OF
. %, 900 inhabitants or less, if the tenn
perance sentiment is sufficiently strong
= and influential to have the charter Of
the city surrendered and the city rein
corporated for the purpose OF getting
the benefit of the four mile law, be-
lieve it could be successful executed
"A and enforced. OF course where thu
= seutiment was not sufficiently strong
the charter would not be surrendered
and the law would not apply"
Judge Bond having declared himsel
for the principle of local option and thu
application OF the fourmile law tt
towns of 25, 900 and less, the Anti-Sa
= loon League indorsed his candidac.
and urged his nomination. The Amer
ican, in giving a report of the league
action, said:
"The final action of the Anti-Salool
u League in the pending gubernatoria
campaign has been the subject of muc
speculation among those interested i
- in politics and has been awaited wit
Y great interest by the partisans OF
the gubernatorial candidates. 1t
understood that the league will take
more than usually active part in pol
tics in the pending campaign, and II
10 actions will doubtless have an impo
tsnt bearing ON the contest for govern
or"
Having received the indorsement
O. the Anti-Saloon League, Judge Bon
received 70 instructed votes. In IL
state convention which was held
- Nashville May 80 and June l and
IS. 1906, NJ. r. Patterson was nominate
for governor ON a platform the four
plank of which is as follows:
2Y 1--WE expressly indorse the Adam
law and other temperance legislatit
now on the statute books of the sta
as having decreased drunkenness, vi
and crime, and oppose any change,
We teration or repeal of same. We fav
an extension of these laws to porto
, of the state not now embraced in the
operation, provided such extension
EE with the consent of the people to
affected thereby, believing that t
people of any locality have the right
y determine the question for themselves
The chairman OF the platform Co
mittee which reported this platfol
II was Cy H. Lyle, and the secreta
whose name is signed thereto is o
!. Luke Lea, who through mere accide
- emerged from obscurity during Il
convention, and who is now clamori
for statewide prohibition regardless
the democratic principle "that the p'
pie of any locality have the right
ma. determine the question for themselve
In his opening speech as the den
- cratic nominee for governor, M. r, 2
terson quoted and endorsed the dec
ran, ration above given, contrasted it W
'tes the plank in the republican plato
which declared for statewide prohi
tion, as Mr.. Csrmsok is now doll
PS' and said: 1.-The democratic pledge
the solemn undertaking of 8 domin
party which has had the responsible