The comet. (Johnson City, Tenn.) 1884-1916, 1909-10-21
DEMOCRACY RE
TURNS TO IT'S OWN.

TOT seNerai montnS reports nave
reached us of a considerable revulsion
of sentiment in West Tennessee. The
politicians had succeeded in inflaming
the people in many localities against
Gov Patterson, In the legislature the
Squaw democrats felt 50 sure of public
sentiment that they not only ignored
the democratic platform and the YER
diet of the people, but they broke their
own word of honor and made an UNI
savory alliance with the republicans
to carry out their eniquitouS designs.
They not only passed laws depriving
the large cities of all voice in the pro-
hibition question, but forcing prohibit
ton on them over their vote against it
as well as over the adverse vote of the
state democracy and the people of Ten
nessee. Having accomplished this,
they then passed an election law and
a primary law that legislated the dem
ocratic party entirely out of the con-
troll of its own affairs and selected
three bosses for it--one republican
to be appointed by the squaws and re-
pubicans in the legislature.
The alliance ran rough shod over the
democratic majority in both houses
and carried out its unsanitary pro
gram, under the answering direction
of Senator Holiday, whom some wag
gave the ridiculous name of the Iron
Duke of Putnam. Squaw democracy,
through its programme of treason and
dishonor, was triumphant all along
the line.
When the Legislature had adjourned
and things were allowed to cool off
the people began to return to reasons
ways. Old line democrats, who haC
been obscured by the noisy wind-jam
mers with their quack reforms, begar
to assert themselves. They knew tina
the politicians leading the new dispen
sation were relormers for revenue only
or for some fat offices. When they
saw men who were born drunk, ant
whose continuous jags had become
classic in the literature of inebrity
rolling their eyes toward heaven ant
denouncing the Demon Rum, the,
knew what was biting these Red Nos
ed Angels
These old line democrats were at
tached to the democratic party. The,
remembered that it had rescued tn
| fettered south from the carpet Dagger
the scalawag and the ignorant negro
They knew that but for the fidelity @
the democracy the south would haV
remained in the clutches of reconstruC
ton, and all our wonderful develop
ment would have been impossible
Hence they resented the ascendency @
the adventures and renegades.
During the last month good man,
party elections have been held, and il
Nashville there has been a regula
election for city officers. Other politi
cal events have TRANSFERRED that ind
cate an emphatic drift away from tn
squaw democracy.
Gov. Patterson, for instance, has re
ceived the endorsement of number {
democratic organizations. Senate
Holiday, it is said, will not be car
didate for reelection to the senate, ali
very wisely 50, for the conditions ar
said to be the reverse of favorable i
his district He is marked for rest. |
is doubtful whether Speaker Kline
will be candidate again, but there
no doubt of the result if he should be.
| Wherever Gov Patterson has bee
an issue in any election his friend
have been Significantly triumphant
In the Nashville democratic primar
the adherents Of the governor score
an overwhelming victory, as they di
in the regular election Thursday. Th
people of that city have bravely score
against fanatcism and squaw demoC
racy.
In the Thirteenth district friend {
Gov. Patterson has defeated a Squa'
democrat for attorney general by a
Overwhelming majority, and this, no
withstanding the fact that there wa
another strong Patterson candidate i
the field.
Two judicial contests were especial
interesting. Judge Jones, the fearles
trial judge, who presided over til
cases of the Night Riders, was a cal
didate for reelection. Judge Jont
was not, we understand, friend
Gov, Patterson in the gubernatorii
primary. Circumstances, howeve
brought him and the governor togetl