The Columbia herald. [volume] (Columbia, Tenn.) 18??-1935, 1908-01-24
Special to The Herald,

NASHVILLE, Tenn, Jan. 22.-.The
Patterson politicians about Nashville
have been thrown into a state OF
frenzy which is ludicrous in the ex-
IRENE when compared with
their recent state of elation fol-
lowing the governors act Of calling a
congress of railroad presidents to set
tie the rate question in Tennessee.
Their fury, which finds expression in
the maniacal screams of the Nash
vile American, is all the greater be-
cause they brought the situation upon
themselves by their own laundering
stupidity.
more Transparent psece OF hum
bug politics was never attempted than
this act of the Governor, and the pur-
pose of It lies right upon the surface
of the situation and is plainly visible
to the most near-sighted understand
ing. There is some little history in
connection with the Governors per-
Torrance, however, not generally
known The Nashville papers have
printed various and sundry rurnors
to the effect that the action OF the Com
mission was prompted by Ex-senator
Carmack, but there is one able-bodied
rumor with very substantial stone
foundation of which you hear no sug-
gestion in any Nashville newspaper,
though the facts are known to every
one of them.
This rumor is that the Governors
performance was a movement sug-
gested by the railroads and in their
interest to head or the contemplated
action of the State Commission. One
fact known but not mentioned by any
of these Nashville newspapers is that
on the day upon which this action
of the governor was determined upon,
Gov. Patterson sat in close council
with e. G. Lewis, prominent official
of both the l.. & ~ and the NJ, c.
& st. l.. railroads and also the proprie-
tor of the Nashville Ameri-
can, together with James G..
Bradford, Mr.. Lewis attorney. and
Col. Duncan B. Cooper, the Gvernor's
constant companion and adviser. 1t
was observed that when these three
gentlemen left the presence of the
governor a satisfied smile was upon
each and every countenance, betoken-
ing the feelings of man who thinks
he has done a mighty smart thing
So far as known no others were adj
mitted to this solemn and delibera-
tive conclave. Very few people have
any doubt that this whole thing was
arranged in this conference and there
are plenty of facts, both antecedent
and subsequent to bear it out
It is a known fact that the relations
between the governor and Mr.. Lewis
are of the most intimate character
SO luIlIudLe III ldCIi lHab thV 6o'ShhSA
has felt that there was no improperly
In his travelling about the state I'm the
luxurious private car of this eminent
railroad official Mr.. Lewis paper
has exhausted all the language OF
laudation upon every act Of the gov
ernor, however trivial and inconse-
quential It might be.
Mr.. Lewis paper has also been ex-
hausting all the language of vitupera-
ton upon every man who suggested
the least interference with the God
given right of railroad corporation
to do and charge as 1t pleased 1t
was especially caustic and bitter IN
its criticism Of Mr. Carmack, when,
in his speech Of Sept 2. he demanded
that the railroads should give the peo-
pie of Tennessee as Just rates as were
accorded to the citizens of other
States. But when the Governor an
nounced his conference With the rail-
road presidents and boldly asserted
his purpose to call an extra session
Of the Legislature II they all didn't
come down 10 the rates granted by
the Southern in other states. The
American fell all over Itself In tn
gloriacation Of the Governors act
II is true that the next day The
American ventured some mild edito-
rial criticism Of the Governor. but
TIA. was MAINLY a narf Of the game.