Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1910-08-19
HOOPER NAMED CHAMPION
FOR FIGHT ON PATTERSON
Independent Democrat Named
by Tennessee Republican
Convention for Governor

NASHVILLE, Tenn. Aug. 17.-Capt
Benjamin w. Hooper. of Newport, Cooke
county. was yesterday afternoon nomi-
mated for governor of Tennessee by the
Republican state convention which as
sembled in the Ryman auditorium here
at noon.
The name of Alfred A Taylor o.
Washington county, vas the only other
one presented to the convention and
Immediately following the announcement
of the result of the first ballot the nom
inaton was made unanimous.
The ballot stood: Hooper, 3S2 9-14; Tay-
lor 200 5-14. The convention also Endorsed
candidacy of B. A. Enloe, independ-
ent Democrat, for railroad commissioner
from west Tennessee.
The independent statewide prohibition
Democrats. who have fought Gov. NJ
r. Patterson every step of his official
career. are expected to support the tick
ct nominated today, as against the reg
ular Democratic nominees. which include
Patterson for reelection, and the coming
campaign promises to be one of bitter
ness.
STAND-PAT PROHIBITION.
The platform adopted today declares
for no backward step in the prohibition
laws, which were passed over the veto
Of Governor Patterson, and asserts that
the state should be redistricted as re-
CARDS congressional, judicial and legis-
lative districts. 1t says that the pres
ent system of fioterial districting is moth
ing less than larceny of the elective
franchise"
Captain Hooper was the choice of the
leaders of the independents tate-w wide
prohibition faction of the Democratic
party which recently elected their can
didates for state judicial officers 1t is
conceded that the same combination will
be In effect in the coming gubernatorial
campaign, and the independents and
state-widers were deeply interested In
the proceedings. Hooper was also the
nnal selection Of the Sanders-Eyans-
Sharpe element OF the Republicans and
IL was evident early in the day that he
was the winner.
WHO NOMINEE is.
captain Hooper is 80 years of age and
native Of Cooke county. He was grad
uated from Carson and Newman college
WIN nrst honors and served two terms
~ the state legislature. He was as
slstant United States attorney of the
east Tennessee district and served az
captain in the Fourth Tennessee reei-
ment during the war with Spain. He
mas been successful in financial affairs
ana is said to be a man of large means
A notable feature of the gathering
was the absence of negro delegates onIv
Few being in the hall.
seated In the galleries was a num-
per OF the leading Independent Demo-
crafts OF the state as interested snec-
tators. 0Pe0-
ENDORSES TAFT.
me platform adopted by the Renrb-
mean convention Endorses the administers
tlon or president Taft and commends
MIN Tor his broad-minded spirit in eIe
Vatlng to the supreme bench of tbs
united states Horace II. Lurton, of Ten
nessee.
On the subject Of the pardoning power
the platform says:
me pardoning power should be used
py the governor sparingly aud with the
greatest care and caution. 1t was MOI
INTENDED that under the cover of this
power he should arrogate himself tina
right to determine the guilt or innocence
OF an accused upon a record on which
such accused has been found guilty by
the courts. or that he should thereby set
at nought criminal statute of which
he does not approve. To assume such
right and to act in accordance with
such assumption is a violation Of his
oath OF office and such conduct on the
part of the governor we most vigorously
condemn"
AGAINST CONVICT MINERS.
Regarding convict labor the platform
says:
I'VE believe that it is unjust that one
Industry should be specially singled out
to bear the burden of competition with
convict labor, and that such competition
sh ould be so distributed that no indus
try would be materially affected thereby.
We, therefore, condemn the extensive
operation Of coal mines by convict la
Dor, where the coal thus mined is thrown
upon the market, already supplied IN d.
rect competition with coal mined by free
labor and such mines are driven into
idleness; the employees are forced to &C.
cept the minimum wages"
ENFORCE THE LAW"
The platform takes a strong stand
on the subject of prohibition, saying:
I'VE reaffirm the declaration OF tn e
Republican party of Tennessee AMI
pledge no backward step on the sub
ject Of temperance, and in opposition to
the open saloon and the baneful influ-
ence and power Of the saloon in the poll
tics Of the state, and condemn the Dem
ocratic administration for its failure to
enforce the laws upon the statute books
and the reckless use OF the pardoning
power, whereby a state of utter disre-
gard and defiance of law has been en-
couraged and permitted to prevail In
large portions of the state"
SENATE PASSES BILL