The Columbia herald. [volume] (Columbia, Tenn.) 18??-1935, 1911-12-01
THE RANK AND FILE.


IN the discussion of harmony in tn
democratic party. One would lmae
me from reading either side that tn
frank and file" of the party in Ten
nessee had practically ceased thei
daily operations and discontinued
business in order to debate "harmO
ny" and to do the loving brother act
Nothing could be further from tn
facts. The plain people, those wh'
merely furnish the votes, who hol(
NO Office and expect none, are no
greatly concerned over the various
and sundry harmony proposals an(
reflections. They expect no favors from
government and will not ask any. AL
that they desire is that their govern
ment shall be administered according
to their own notion of running it and
nearly all of them think they know
just how this should be done.
The masses of Tennessee, the ordi
nary every day voters, are not ex'
cited over the question of harmony in
the democratic party. The rank ana
file" of the Independents are wholly
Indifferent to the question. And the
same thing is true of the rank and
file" of the so-called regulars.
Whatever may be the result of the
peace overtures most of the members
of both factions will vote for those
candidates who come nearest repre-
senting their particular ideas OF gov
eminent. The spirit of independence
Is abroad in the land and especially
in Tennessee and regardless of what
the leaders may do or say majority
of the independents who redeemed
Tennessee last year in two desperate
ly fought battles, are going to vote
next year for the candidates whom
they believe will represent them best
and will strive to give the people
good, honest government free from
the influence of the liquor interests.
All the "harmony'' in the world will
not obtain the votes Of majority
of the fearless independent demo-
Gratis Of Tennessee for candidates
who owe allegiance to the corrupt
and lawless liquor interests. That
IL certain and the politicians on both
sides should understand it. The indie
pendent democrats Of Tennessee who
stood true to the cause In the two
great contests of last year are pdtri-
OTIS and not ps.rtisans and they are
not going to sacrifice their convic-
lions and principles even If certain
aspiring politicians on both sides
should invite them to do so. They
are not greatly concerned about the
success of the democratic party I'M
less that party's triumph will ad-
vance the cause of good government,
tend to encourage the enforcement Of
the laws, and help the temperance
cause. OF course there are those In
the ranks of the independent demo
Gratis who are after the loaves and
fishes and care but'little for the pub.
lie veal, who are now ready to pro-
claim harmony from the house tops,
without waiting for any assurance
that the nominees of the democratic
party in 1912 will be any improve
ment upon the State nominees of
that party in 1910. But the number
is small and their influence of little !
!
The same thing is true of the rank
and file" Of the so-called regulars.
They are not greatly concerned about
the success o. the democratic party |
unless it's success shall keep in pow
err the same influences and persons ,
which now dominate its councils. BY |
their support of republican for |
treasurer over as true disciple of de-
mocracy as ever breathed they have
shown that their professions OF 10y
atty to the party are all delnsion
and a snare, all for appearances sake.
II. as the result of a genuine reunion
Of the democratic party in Tenres.
see. the temperance element should
capture the nominations, the orsani-
cation and write the platform, ma
iority of the so-called regulars"
would promptly make an alliance
with the liquor republicans and at
tempt the defeat of the demoC, attic
nominees at the polls. The so-cailed
regulars" are no more more legu-
lar than their party opponents. Pres
ant conditions make il seem to heir
interest to shout regularity" That's
Ill.
There are certain we'll nigh irrCcon-
,ilable issues which divide the DEM
ocratc party in Tennessee. Both