The Columbia herald. [volume] (Columbia, Tenn.) 18??-1935, 1908-05-08
The TREND IS PLAIN.

apuarent that Governor Patterson ne'S
seen that his cause is hopeless.
He went through his East Tennes-
see campaign only to receive lndls-
putable proof that there the followers
OF Senator Carmack are overwhelm-
ingly in the ascendary. His friendly
newspaper correspondents endeaVored
10 serve up accounts Of the debates
which would comfort and sustain the
Governors friends in Middle and West
Tennessee.
Rut there was neither strength nor
comfort for the Governor in the story
of the Joint debate as it actually de-
veloped from Chattanooga to Morris
town.
He had faced the people themselves
and had perceived, all too clearly, how
strong they were against him.
Then the Governor was led to be-
lieve that his disappointments in the
East would be more than compensated
nv the number and ardor of his sup
porters in Middle Tennessee. Clearly
the Governor had based great hopes
upon the Nashville debate. When ne
saw how greatly the red badges out
numbered the white on the streets OF
Nashville last Saturday, and when at
night he faced an audience which
slowed a preponderance by two or
three to one of Carmack supporters,
his chagrin was great and plainly did
he show it.
The crowds at Manchester, Sparta,
McMinnville and Winchester only con-
firmed more certainly what had been
so forcibly indicated at Nashville.
Governor Patterson realized that ne
had been bested in the debate. Inc
defense Of his administration was
woefully wanting. His position on
public questions was uncertain ana
unsatisfactory. Where he had hoped
for strength he found only weakness.
The governor saw that the Democrats
Of Middle Tennessee were not for him.
His pitiful assumption of good hui
NOR. while poorly concealing his olt-
terness. has shown how keenly he felt
the situation and how deeply he re-
scented 1t.
Yesterday. at Fayetteville, in a
conntv where he believed he was
strong. he faced an audience in which
his supporters we're in hopeless NIL
nority.
This melting was the climax to the
Governors disappointment and ne lost
his head. Il is evident that MS pur-
nose--that is if he has been capable
of purpose for the past several days
was to end all joint discussion. HIS
record was being reviewed. he
WINGED. His only hope was to make
q continuation of the debate 1mpossl-
BILE and to end it with something OF
advantage to himself. 1t is clear that
he tried to force Senator Carmack 10
attack him with force.
However such a difficulty might
have resulted to the overwrougnt ana
intense partisans of each candidate
the certainty of immediate separation
rendered safe the position of the par
ty inviting the attack.
There was absolutely nothing IN the
Senatorial primary which justified the
Governors assertion that Mr.. Carmack
had admitted that he had sought to
obtain the high Office of United States
Senator by fraud. The Governor was
nonplussed by the calm, clear ques-
ton from Mr.. Carmack and Mr.. Car
macks dignified and manly words,
"That statement is false"
The effort to bring on personal
attack had failed. The Governor had
played his last card and lost, and then
in his helpless wrath he gave way to
the historical anger of an enraged
man.
The dignity and forbearance of Sen
ator Carmack upon this occasion is
highly commendable. He had the
moral courage to restrain himself and
to prevent the riot which the Cover
nor's Incorporate words almost pro-
voked.
The trend is plain.
The people are thoroughly in revolt
against the Governors machine
Tennessean.