The Columbia herald. [volume] (Columbia, Tenn.) 18??-1935, 1909-02-12

Hess he feels that be cannot tFust a.
axtressiou 81 the people.
A. candidate, 7 preferred 2 Re
louest 10 the executive cJmmitte tha
ithe nomination for governor by n
/ democratic party b. made pr direc
vote of the people believing thai
this method is the fsirest 70 ascertain
+ The popular viii In most Of tnt
Estates surrounding Tennessee the pr
mary plan for nominating candidates
for governor has been adopted with
admirable results and to the satisfae.
ton Of the voters.
The constitution of Tennessee pro
yides that the governor shall be elect
ed by the vote Of the people.
IF it is right TO elect a governor
by the vote of the people, it is right
TO nominate by such vote"
Governor Patterson in his first can
vass Tor governor said:
When we consider that under this
system the governor appoints three
commissioners Of his own selection
for each county, and they in turn, des-
ignate the registrars, judges and
clerks TO conduct all elections, it is
realized how completely this ire
mendous power is taken out of the
hands of the people and lodged with
the executive.
1T strips the people of sovereignty,
and confers it upon the governor.
Political Machines.
1T enables him to build up politi-
cal machine in his own interest, and
to thwart the popular will.
That good men are sometimes APP
pointed, irrespective Of factions, does
not save the law from infamy, and
that it more often foments factional
and bad blood, is the
very least of its abuses.
1T creates political monopoly, hate
full to the genius of a free people.
1t bears the menace Of uncontrolled
power To the very core the law
Is unjust, undemocratic, arbitrary and
.yrannical
It required a revolution and the |
sacrifice Of untold blood and treasure |
o establish on the western hemis- |
ohere, the principle of self-govern-
nent and the rule of the people, and |
t may require a political revolution
n Tennessee TO re-establish it, but,
i whatever cost the people should
esume the power.
Accountable to People.
Il shall favor the adjustment of
his law, but if it is desirable to retain
he commissioners as a convenient
lethod for holding elections, then
ley should be made directly account
bic to the people and receive their
uthority from them. This could be
ccomplished in one of two ways
ther by direct vote of the people, or
iStOuLu6uddtiOu VI LuS executive
of the dominant parties of
tch county, who come fresh from the
eople, who shall submit four names,
Of two democrats and two
from which the governor
iall be directed by law TO name the
rec commissioners of election-not =
ore than two to belong to the same
,liticaI party. If any better plan is q
ggested than here offered, | would y
willing to adopt it; how the people =
all use the pOwer-once 1t is re- &c
pred to them-is OF secondary i'm
rtance to a restoration of the power !
elf
If this is done, mighty stride will y
taken towords pure government, -
d a mortal blow will be delivered o'
; machine. Devious methods and a
litieal free-booting cannot long sur "a
'e in the light of the rule of the u
0ple. III
Cannot Be Defended. ~
The law which gives this arbitrary ~
wer to the governor cannot be de-
ded and the fact that no better ar WI
ment can be employed than the one III
is an evidence of the fact SIT
'ase my opposition upon the broad IN
,und that it IS unfair and undemo- Cd
tic" HI
Sc