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

fncorrupribis Democrat In the county
uDOu the block 10 be bought. sold and
deligeredz
(Which plan would be preferred By
the Whiskey interest-that which re-
stricts us power 70 It's own vote. or
thai which enables IL 20 conscript
every Democratic voter into It's army
and compel him TO march under the
hammer and night the battles Of the
saloon?
aAnsSer these questions TO your
conscience. and then tell me In whose
interest and for whose benefit this
plan was adopted.
In a paper issued from Gov. Patter-
sons headquarters the statement Is
emphasized in black and staring let
tiers that one OF the great virtues of
this plan is that the people do not
vote for delegates. Gov. Patterson
actually believes that be has accom-
plished a great reform because for the
first time in all the history Of the
Democratic party the people have
been denied the right to elect and to
instruct the delegates who are to
make the platform and frame the i'm
portant issues of the next campaign.
There has not been a campaign In
many years in which the people will
be so deeply interested in the plat
form of the Democratic party. Gov.
Patterson, my countrymen, loudly
boasts of the fact that under his plan
you will have neither lot nor part In
this matter.
A CLEAN CUT QUESTION.
This paper likewise emphasizes
the statement that the people are
permitted to vote directly for a can
didate for Governor; and In doing so
they have doubly emphasized the in
iquity of the whole proceeding. 1t is
true that under this plan every DEM
ocrat will vote his choice for Cover
nor. These votes will be counted;
they will be returned to the central
authority in the City of Nashville, and
when that is done, that board will
have right before it, visible upon the
very face of the returns, the recorded
fact that one candidate or the other
has received a majority of all the
Democratic votes. What more do
you need to know? What more do
you need to do? | put the question
to your conscience as a Democrat,
why not announce that result as it
lies plainly before you and end the
contest right then and there? Why
all this novel and complicated ma
chinery to get away from the simple
duty of declaring the will of the peo-
pie after you have ascertained the
will of the people? Give me some
honest reason. There is no honest
reason.
"My countrymen, If shall control
a majority of the delegates In that
but it shall appear that
a majority of the Democratic voters
have voted for my competitor, he may
take the nomination for will not
have it.
"No body of men shall give me an
honor which the people have express
Iy denied. put the question to my
majority of the DEM
ocratic voters shall signify by their
votes that they do not want you for
their nominee, will you take nomina.
lion from a convention that is not |
even elected by the people? Are you |
willing to call yourself the nominee
IF the Democratic party over the pro-
tests of majority of the Democratic
voters in Tennessee? Is that your
plan for redeeming the solemn prom
sc to restore the rule of the peo-
oIe?'
sov. PATTERSON INSULTS
THE COUNTY COMMITTEES.
my countrymen, one of the most
outrageous features of this plan is In
he fact that it strips the county COM
nittees of their immemorial rights
md privileges, and concentrates the
control of the party machinery in the
lands of two office-holding partisans
If Gov. Patterson-to all intents and
purposes in his own hands. Today
he appointment of every Judge and
Jerk and receiver in every voting
,recinct to this state is in the hands
# Malcolm r. Patterson, candidate
or Governor. Two years ago Gov.
Patterson spoke with force and elo-
Iuence against the great evil of the
of the election machin-
ry He declared that 1t was viola
i've of the sacred right of local self