The Washington herald. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1906-1939, 1910-07-10

inspiration, and the saving grace OF man,
l condemn any measure which will bring
even q part OF them into the heated and
poisoned atmosphere of political strife. "
The courage OF the man was shown by
the fact that his inaugural was due TO
take place within ten days. On January
II he took the oath Of office for the sec
ond time, and, as his prohibition veto had
infiamed the popular mind In Tennessee,
he took occasion 70 make dramatic ap-
peal 70 the people. inviting them to put
him on trial in the courts or in the senate
sitting as court of Impeachment, II they
thought him guilty of the ISLANDERS that
had been circulated about him. He was
never tried.
PardOned Col. Cooper.
So the governor was reinaugurated. his
administration ran on for more than a
year. and things were becoming compare
lively quiet in Tennessee-when the Su-
preme Court handed down long decision
(six solid newspaper pages) granting
Robin Cooper new trial. but Affirming
the guilt of Col Cooper.
Gov. Patterson did not wait to read the
decision. No sooner did ne learn its pur-
port than he seized pardon form and
signed It. This set Col. Cooper free. and
made Il practically certain that Robin
would never come to trial
It was a place Of impulsiveness, and II
might well have been postponed few
days to give the appearance Of respect
for the court. But that was not Patter-
sons way. He felt that he was right.
and he felt 1t so strongly that he wanted
70 show It, no matter whom he hit His
blunt little statement said:
Being thoroughly familiar with the
record, having read all the testimony,
and testified to certain facts within my
personal knowledge, IL is neither desir-
able nor necessary to delay action.
In my opinion, neither. Of the defend
ants is guilty. and they have not had
fair and impartial trial. but were convict
cd contrary 10 the law and evidence.
The proof showed that Robin Cooper
killed 4 the deceased and that Duncan
Cooper did not FIRE shot
Without reflections upon the court, II
Is inconcelyable in my mind and repug-
nant to every principle OF Justice that
man should be found guilty Of murder
who was not in a conspiracy 70 kill, and
when. in fact. Ae did not XIII"
SO much for friendship-but the people
were astounded. Rumors OF the gov
ernors resigning. Of plot to assassinate
him. and OF a plan TO lynch Col. Cooper
filed the air IN Nashville For the time
being public sentiment was pretty much
with the court: and hard words were
breathed against the governor.
Issue in Next Campaign.
They had expected Patterson to help his
friend Cooper, but they had never
dreamed that he would snap his fingers
in the, face OF the Supreme Court And
in that moment was born the issue which
IS 20 determine the result Of the guber-
Material election this fall, the issue on
which Patterson's future now stands,
namely: shall the chief executive be
allowed to override the decisions OF the
judiciary Shall the judiciary be the
football OF polities?"
Hitherto it seems the nominations for
the Supreme Court have been made at a
separate convention. so that they should
not become involved with the politics OF
the state ticket. According 10 the story
told by some OF the judges. Patterson IN
tlmated 20 the Supreme Court that he
would like to have the Carmack case de-
cided in favor OF the cOopers; and when
AA1G NUufN lEAAeEu u accommodate MN.
sent them word that he would not give
them a convention this year, but would
make them go into the regular party prl-
maries for their nominations. Patterson
had a firm grip on the party machinery
and was In a position 70 make good his
threat.
Three OF the judges retalIated In a way
which he little expected They refused TO
go into the primary. and declared that
they would run independently. Though
Democrats all their lives in a preponder-
atingly Democratic State. they bolted
Patterson's machine. This might seem
Ike political suicide but let US see what
the result Is. The judicial election comes
by itself in August; the other nominees
viii be voted for in November. The bolt
Ing judges will ask for Republican and
independent support in August, in the
hope of defeating Patterson's nominees.
In exchange they win throw their infiu-
ance and strength against Patterson and
the rest of the Democratic State ticket
n November, and try 10 elect the Repub-
icans.
Think OF that-trying TO elect Republ-
ans in a Southern state, and especially !
But under the circumstances
t is not such a wild thought There is
sentiment in other Southern
states for the annihilation of Patterson,
wen II it takes Republican candidates !
o do>it
Patterson . Wholesale PardOner.
The Cooper pardon caused the gov
.rnor's enemies to look up his record |
Ilong this line They found that he had |
'ardoned more people than any other |
namely. S56. In three years and /
wo months. OF these. 152 were murder |
RS, 100 were Illicit liquor sellers, us had /
'een convicted of carrying weapons, i24 /
lad committed larceny, and 100 had been 4
ent to prison for other misdemeanors. !
Ham Patterson's hearth was the ex-
lanation given by his friends. The gov 1
rnor himself did not seem TO think that /
lie had done anything unusual He de- .
Jared that he had exercised the power
laced in his hands by the people in the |
interests of humanity. Before the con-
lets were freed, they all went before the
governor, and each promised never 10
orget the executive kindness. His enc
MES declared that the pardons had been
artered for legislation
The Tennessee ''game-cock," stung into
unning a third time to discomfort. his
nemies, is the sort Of man who is inter-
sting chiefly for his foes. If you live
1 Tennessee, you either worship him or
ou hate him How his worshipers see
I'm is told wildly in the following pas
age from the Nashville American:
He is more than an ordinary
nan who can survive wholesale vilifica-
on, SANDER. and falsehood. and all the
lille enlarge the circle OF his friends
lie is the best hated man in the public
fe of Tennessee since the days Of recon
truetion- As tactless as a bear in a
eehive. as fearless as any knight who
yer entered the lists with lance in rest
nd visor down. with the courage Of
onvictions and consistency. the gift OF
reat common sense. a sublime faith in
he justice of his course and cause. and
n unfaltering belief that the heart of
umanity Is in the right place, and that,
hnr, - 4-f~~ IL