Sequachee Valley news. (Sequachee [Sequatchie], Tenn.) 1896-1952, 1910-06-23
THE STRAIGHT TICKET.

iversity. a venerable educator OF the
north. touched upon politics and said;
s'The way to vote a straight ticket is
to scratch off the crooked names
Was ever truer axiom born in the
mind of mani Could more wholesome
advice tending to the lbetterment of
matters political, have been suggestedY
No. The suggestion is solution to
the great problem which confronts the
politicsl world today-it sets forth the
only way to rid the country of its pre-
vaiIine pollutedness and perpetuate a
system of government free from stencil
and stigma.
But intimate your intention to
scratch veritable demon from your
party ticket and you will hear Choir
us of protests as bewailing as Hark
from the tomb. Some Of the old
guard, the old belled wethers that
bleat upon the hastings, will come at
Won with "bolter''. Some of the good
old Republicans who have reached the
third blessing state in partisan party
will back off as far as 1854 and unfold
traditional fabric which will fairly
dazzle the vision of the amateurs'
thew will make grandstand speeches on
the party's phenomenal growth and OF
how it has served as city of refuge
to shelter the faithful from the ravag-
es of the avenger. The regular
democrats will importune the way
wardly inclined of their party with
their cloud crying and much speak
ing They will hoist scare crow
that will be grewsome to look upon,
and, no doubt, will cause the shedding
of many crocodile tears. OF course re-
construction days-Oh horror OF hor-
rors will be reproduced as a most
touching drama, but the rurport will
change the effect to that of ludicrous
comedy How the old regulars will
deplore ticket scratching Treason
Meeting They will deem such an act
political montrosity. Some of them
will adiure that to scratch the unde-
sirables from party ticket is such a
falling from grace that the sin is SO
objectionable, the doer thereof should
be forever banished to the outer dark
ness of ostracism.
The tendency to depart from the ira
ditions of the old parties is alarming
to professional politicians mean
boodlers and demagogues-and whyf
The reason is obvious. Here it is:
The political boss, the diabolical
crook, the Zone man with an exalted
ego, dominates party affairs. Usur-
patton of sovereignty, deprivation of
prerogatives, and monarchial tenden-
cy has set Anglo-Saxon blood boiling
and the apparent result is political
revolution.
The situation in Tennessee today,
for instance. The big descendent of
jefferson and Jackson, is wont to
spread himself out and hover the dem
ocratic party as hen would hover her
brood Recently he quoted the hawk
signal and on last Thursday his brood
sought refuge under his wings; tn zen
after he had CLICKED carressingly to
them, they departed chasing the butter
fly and June bug. But what of the
Patterson convention at the Ryman
Auditorium? Verify, that audience of
ardent supporters and compensated
henchmen would fain have made that
coronation day, would have crowned
Patterson King and placed golden
sceptre in his hand had not the consti-
tuition prevented such. He was lauded
as the spotless, unblemished, immacu-
late standard bearer of the party,
which stands for purity in politics,
protection of the home and the better
ment of civic righteousness. By that
throng of people, the personnel of which
was greatly diversified, the governor
was applauded for his unimpeachable
patriotism Is it fact that those ov-
er-zealous followers of Mr. Patterson
are blinded as to his corrupt morals
and anarchistic principles, which have
prompted him to commit his anomal-
GUS acts and bring disgrace upon .tne
state that has intrusted him at its
masthead2 Reason forbids.
Back to the text. Will voters for the
sake of the name democratic party,
in the face of Patterson's pardon re-
cord, his avowed intention to free the
penitentiary of its abominable Grimm
ais, and his Willingness to set aside
laws for selfish purposes, go to the
polls and approve of his outrageous
acts by voting for him again2 Surely
not. From his advent into Tennessee
politics four years ago, all have been
observing his crookedness. So all who
would vote straight" ticket should
do some scratching on this crooked
crook and the candidates that approve
of his crookedness by forming an ALI.
| ance with him. /. PECK.
|