The Thibodaux sentinel. (Thibodaux, La.) 1905-1912, 1909-03-27
THIBoDAUx. La. SATURDAY. MARCH p. 1909


from every stump in Tennessee he
pictured him in the bitterest words
in his vocabulary as a common
CRATER And the whole crew Joined
their voices in one universal chorus
of damnatien-.crook,' CRATER,
corrupt politician cheap John
demagogue'. such were the words
that flew thick and fast from the
mouths of Duncan B. Cooper and all
the leaders in the great movement to
reform and Purge and purify the
state, to destroy the power of the
political machine and restore power
to the people of Tennessee. The
whole campaign was conducted with
a view not only to defeat Governor
Cox, but to load him with infamy
and drive him out of the politics of
Tennessee. So far was this carried
that after Governor Patterson had
been nominated for Governor and
Cox had been minated for State
Senate Major Cooper Journeyeds to
Bristol for the purpose of getting
out an Independent. candidate against
him.
These facts will serve to glorify
the recent pact of peace. 1t shows
how far Governor Patterson had to
stoop, how much Governor Cox had
to forgive, and matches an infinite
condescension with an infinite hui
miiity. OF course, there are other de-
tails. When Governor Cox was sum-
moned to Nashville, some weeks ago,
it was not simply for the purpose of
falling on somebody's neck or of
having somebody fall upon his. There
are honors and dignities and Offices
and substantial rewards to be dis
tributed-things that go to heal the
hurt that honor feels-and these
things were talked Of and consid-
cred.
But no doubt the main thing was
that Governor Cox agreed to join
himself with Ban Murray, Dune
Cooper and Sparrall Hill and aid
lAO" tuCI1 UdtIiC LIZ tAC Aoly
cause of local self-government."
By local self-government Carmack
that the fight against prohi
bition. The liqour interests led by
the Governor declared in favor of
local option and of letting each
community settle the saloon ques-
ton for itself.
Colonel Cooper, upon reading this
editorial, sent the famous message
to Carmack: IF my name appears
in the Tennesseean again, one of |
must die The warning was deliv-
cred to Senator Carmack by Ex-
State Treasurer Craig. Carmack said |
that Colonel Cooper's threat had |
made cessation of the editorials |
mpossible-that If the Tennesseean |
never again used Cooper's name the
public would believe the paper had |
been bluffed and it would lose caste.
So on Monday. Nov. 8, the day of T
The killing, there appeared in the
rennesseean this editorial:
THE DIPLOMAT OF THE ZWEI-
BUND.''
"To Major Duncan Brown Coop
#, who wrought the great coalition,
Who achieved the harmonious conflu-
,nce of incompatible elements, who
welded the pewter handle to the
wooden spoon, who grated the dead
,ough to the living tree and made
t to bloom and bourgeon and bend
With golden fruit, who made play
mates of the lamb and the leopard
nd boon companions of the spider
md the fly, who made soda and
'inegar to dwell placidly in the same
'ottle and who taught oil and water
low they might agree-to Major
duncan Brown Cooper, the diplomat
+ the political Zweibund be all hon
r and glory forever.
What happened next is history.
he states witnesses say that Car
lack was shot down from behind,
Vhile he was in the act of raising
is hat to lady-Mrs. Eastman.
he Coopers swear that they walked
cross the street to reason with
armack, an1 that he opened fire
once, wounding Robin, who there
pom and in self-defense fired the
lots which killed the editor.