The Columbia herald. [volume] (Columbia, Tenn.) 18??-1935, 1911-04-28
STAND BY THE PATRIOTS.

STAND BY THE PATRIOTS.
When the people Of Tennessee by
an overwhelming majority last Au-
gust repudiated the disgraceful Pat
terson machine and when that decree
was ratified at the polls in November
by the election of Hooper and ma
jority of the House of Representa-
tives in opposition to the machine,
The Herald hoped that we would have
harmony in the Democratic party in
Tennessee. 1t believed that even the
insolent Patterson machine would &C
cept the two verdicts of the people and
would be content to leave the legisla-
ton placed upon the statute books
by the reformers and twice approved
by the people, unmolested.
But in these hopes we were soon
disappointed. The Patterson machine
made a desperate effort to swerve the
reformers from the path of duty and
betray the people in the organization
of the House. Those efforts failed,
to the honor and glory of the State.
The Herald again renewed it's sugges-
ton of harmony. But while the good
people of Tennessee slept in fancied
security the forces of evil were at
work and as result five of those
elected as opponents of the Patterson
machine were prevailed upon to vio-
late their pledges to the people and
betray their constituents. The next
result was to place in control OF the
House of Representatives the very
machine that had been twice over
whelmingly repudiated by the people
of Tennessee; 1t was to turn over to
the same old disgraceful gang the
State that it had plundered for four
years.
The people have been betrayed.
Power has been embezzled' and truth
and honor have been dethroned. In
this emergency thirty-four Of the pa
triotic members of the House have
fed to another State to prevent fur
Their dishonor and disgrace. Their
course is commended by the unpur-
chased manhood of the State. There
was no other remedy to prevent a
complete reversal of the peoples de-
crees twice rendered.
The harmony" talk Of the Patter-
son partisans will deceive no one.
Not a single question that was at
issue in August and November has
been settled by this Legislature, on
the contrary the Patterson partisans
by fair means and foul have sought to
open up every issue then pending.
No one will for a moment believe in
the sincerity of harmony" advocates
who break their plighted word and
violate their solemn pledges to the
people.
Having gone to Alabama to save
the honor and glory Of the State, to
sustain the laws that the people
have twice decreed, to preserve laws
that were purchased with the blood
of a martyr, the exiled Legislators
should have the support, the mater
1al support and encouragement OF the
good people whom they serve. They
should be sustained, If necessary, for
two years by the good people Of Ten
nessee. 1t is too much to expect that
they should pay all Of their expenses
and at the same time suffer the loss
of an enforced absense from their
homes and places of business. The
people of Tennessee owe 1t to them
selves to stand by those who are
standing like heroes by their inter
ests. Old Maury always to the front
wherever the honor and integrity OF
the State are involved, has respond
ed to the call and will make another
contribution. Other counties should
do the same.
Stand by those who are holding
inviolate their pledges to the people.
Help those who have helped us in
The hour of trial. 1t should be
privilege to sustain and uphold the
States heroic defenders in exile.
Their cause 10 ours.