The comet. (Johnson City, Tenn.) 1884-1916, 1910-04-21
AS THIRD TERM
CANDIDATE
A 1000 WORD STATEMENT
Issued and Goes Into Foil Details
of Cooper Pardon-He Never
Beloved They were Guilty


Malcolm r. Patterson tonight an
nounced his candidacy to succeed him
self, subject to the democratic primar,
of June 4. In view of recent politica
events in Tennessee and the governor
pardon of Col. Duncan B. Cooper
convicted of the Carmack murder an,
sentenced to twenty years in prison
the statement of Gov Patterson is par
ticularly interesting. 1t makes 100
words. Gov. Patterson represents TIN
antI-prohibitio element of the democ
racy of Tennessee, and in the outse
his statement declares:
"Malicous and persistent defama
ton, while they have not harmed
have made the burdens somewha
hard to bear and rendered more diff
cult the discharge of the duties incum
bent upon me.
The Governor Declares Prohibition Law Il
| Curse.
The governor speaks of those "wht
have heretofore called themselves dem
ocrats, but who are in fact without
political convictions, who took advant
age Of the sentiment for prohibition
in which many honest men sincerely
believed, to wreak private vengeance
and have used this issue to play upon
prejudice, and thereby, if possible,
foist themselves to place and power.
"Whcn the legislature met, a major
ity of both branches being democratic,
instead of abiding by platform pledges
and obeying the will of the people,
enough democrats were driven or ca
joled to betray their party and to enact
laws which have proven an unmiti.
gated curse to the state, the fomenters
Of discord and strife among our people.
"Had my second administration as
governor not been embarrassed by these
untoward circumstances; had | been
sustained as l should have been by all
the democrats in the legislature; had
pledges to the people been redeemed
instead of dishonored, there would
have been no demand or any good
reason for my candidacy for a third
term"
Explains in Detail The Cooper Case.
Under a sub-heading, "Cooper Case, y
the statement says:
"My reasons for pardoning Col.
Cooper have already been given, and
need no iteration. 1t may not be
amiss, however, to present certain
other facts which may have escaped
the public in the din and clamor
which has been raised. Outside news
papers may be excused for misstate-
ments, for their information is partial,
but there is no palliation for those in
our own state who have sought to
stigmatize me and infiame the pas
Sions of men against an act which
had the right to perform. These have
said that Col. Cooper was my friend,
and one of my chief councillors. This
is true, and it was true long before
Senator Carmack became q candidate
for governor. My relations with Col.
Cooper were close and intimate, and
no attempt has ever been made to de-
ny or conceal that fact. At one time
so were the relations between Col
Cooper and Senator Carmack. / was
in no way at fault in bringing about
a rupture between them. When /
learned of probable trouble / tried
every way to avoid it, and believed
that my efforts and those of others
had succeeded. When the killing of
Senator Carmack occurred / was in no
sense responsible for it, and have
xeenly regretted it from that hour to |
his, not only on his own account, but |
it involved my friends and |
gave licence to certain men whose |
names should be infamous To manufac- |
ure political capital and to excite the |
people at a time when the state was
already disturbed and distressed.
"When Col. Cooper and his son
we're tried, have never believed, and
10 not now believe, that their case re-
,eived that calm consideration to
which it was entitled, but on the con-
rary it was rather a political trick,
With almost every element present to
preclude an administration of even
handed justice. Their case was APP
lealed to the supreme court, and that
tribunal divided, three being in favor
# an affirmance of the ease against
Jol. Cooper, while three were in favor
# reversal as to the son, and two were