The comet. (Johnson City, Tenn.) 1884-1916, 1908-05-07

lebanon Democrat, edited by the anthor OF |
the Adams Law.)
The opening of the joint canvass be-
tween ex-senator Carmack and Gov.
Patterson at Chattanooga was decid-
ed success. A feature of the debate |
was the snnounceme ent by Mr.. Carmack
that he favored state. wide prohibition.
Previous to his speech he had not posi-
lively declared his position. His an
nouncement of his position was evil
IDENTIFY the most telling point he made, |
and as Gov. Patterson had already an
nounced his position in his speech at
Nashville, Senator Carmack knew ex'
sctly where the governor stood, where
as Carmack's position was unknown
until he came out plainly and unequiv'
ocally.
Gov. Patterson says he stands upon
the platform adopted by the last con-
vention and until that platform is
changed he asserts that it is his and
every other democrats duty to stand
by it.
The platform declared for an exten
sion of the amendment to the four mile
law upon an expression favoring its ap-
plication by the voters of tho town or
City to be affected thereby. 1t did not
declare for an extension of the law to
the entire state, however, in effect, the
law passed by the legislature and ap-
proved by Gov. Patterson does apply
to every oity and town in the state
availing themselves of its provisions.
There are only four towns in the state
where whisky can be legally sold and
when they are ready to apply the law
they can do 80 by majority vote of
their citizens. Nashville and Chatta-
nooga can only sell whisky in segregat-
ed or restricted areas The segregation
acts were also approved by Gov. Pat
terson. The license was increased and
now the revenue derived by the state
from the present saloons equals the
amount heretofore received from all the
saloons in the wet towns and those now
dry. Gov. Patterson may not fully ap-
prove prohibition, but he should be
credited to some extent with what has
been done during his administra
He asserts that he has done something
for prohibition and charges that Mr..
Carmack has done nothing but criti-
else.
Carmack favors state-w wide prohibi-
ton, but does not say whether it is to
be obtained by amendment to present
laws or by law repeating the present
laws extending the four-mile law out
right to the entire state. Favorine
temperance legislation inimical to pres
ent laws is more or less dangerous tC
all dry towns. A statewide act passed
by one Legislature repeating all conflict
ing statutes would only open the way
for succeeding legislature to repea
> the act and throw the state wide oper
to the saloon and we would have to be
. gin over again. The only safe plan 81
we see it is to submit a prohibition
i amendment to the people letting then
I pass upon that proposition and closing
the question for years to come. Unit
9 this is done we may expect this ques
ton to occupy the middle of the stage
q It is o moral question and should b
I submitted in such way that other mat
q ters will not affect its consideration no
0 the result Of the contest.
To enact q law extending the four
o mile law to the entire state is to den
the wet towns mentioned above th
: right to settle the question for them
= selves, as has been done by all th
= towns now dry. Such a course also
= dangerous from our viewpoint for th
reason that public sentiment in NASH
" Vile, Memphis and Chattanooga ma
be such that to force them dry woul
10 invite Wholesale violations and an il
difference to enforcement that woul
reflect more or less upon all temper
, ance legislation.
4 With Carmack for statewide prob
bition and Patterson willing to approx
and advocate any statewide act indor
cd by the democratic party there ca
be little excuse for making this an issu,
u Statewide prohibition is as certain
= prevail over the state after the nel
Of Legislature as anything can be that b,
ID not already occurred. 1t matters NJ
y who is governor, we are going to hay
it. That is deoreed by the fates. Fl
our part we think it would be safer
let the present law stand and that
Ia would be best TO let the wet towns e,
a ercise the privilege Of Kidding then
Il. selves OF the incubus as public sent
g. ment grows and assures enforcement
the law when applied. Though v
want every town dry, and as soon
It; possible, we recognize the fact that v
a. a. have advanced this far along democra
Va ic lines and no one can gsinssy II
p. fact that local self-government is d