The Columbia herald. [volume] (Columbia, Tenn.) 18??-1935, 1911-01-27
SENATOR LUKE LEA.

dates either avowed or prospective
for the Senate, The Herald preferred
the election of Hon. Luke Lea: This
journal Is therefore highly gratified at
the result of the long draw out Leg
islative contest. 1t would be difficult
to conceive of more satisfactory
solution. Although young In years,
and he will be the youngest member
Of the august body to which he has
ben chosen, Luke Lea Is no ordinary
man. He Is not of common clay. No
man Of his years could have achieved
what he has II he had not been pos
essed Of extraordinary qualities.
OF striking personality, possessed
Of an unusual amount Of personal
magnetism, forceful capable, energet-
ic, persevering, Luke Lea is one OF
the strongest characters In public
life in Tennessee. Born with gold
spoon In his mouth, brought up In the
lap of luxury he has never been spoil
ed day In his life. Always and eter-
Aally he has been q worker. To him
life 10 real and earnest. He never
squandered time. He has mission
In life. He is of that type Of men like
Pinchott and Churchill and Roosevelt
who have been attracted to public
HE because they felt themselves call
ed to serve their fellow men.
Luke Lea Ii an altruist and In this
respect his character bears strik-
ing resemblance to that Of the late
Senator Carmack. He may be and Of
ten is mistaken but he labors for
what he conceives the public good.
Unselfish, generous. OF the most agree
able manner he il nevertheless a
fighter. He pursues an idea to the
end. No matter how dark the Eight
or how drear the road Luke Lea new.
err despairs. He 10 ranking officer
of the great order Of optimists. There
Is no dark side Of any proposition to
Luke Lea. He has never been known
to lose his equanimity. In the midst
of storm and strife he stands ever
with head erect. Conscious Of the
Of his cause the moro
the obstacles appear
the more determined he is to achieve
success.
Luke Lea does things. He has &C.
complished results. Five years ago.
having full faith in the promises and
pledges of Patterson, he became his
ardent supporter. His efforts In the
which first nominated Pat
terson we're largely responsible for
the success Of the Memphian. Dis
covering shortly after the Governors
term commenced that he was not sin
cere In his advocacy Of reform. Luke
Lea espoused the cause Of Senator
and from that day he has
been the bitter. the implacable and
the ceaseless foe OF Patterson. Since
the untimely death Of Senator Car
mack Luke Lea has been the most
the most determined and
the most aggressive leader Of the op-
position to Patterson. His Newspaper
has been the recognised organ Of the
reform forces and 1t, more than any
other force, contributed to the victo-
ries of last August and last Novem.
Der which destroyed the Patterson
in Tennessee.
Luke Lea has already left his i'm
press upon the affairs of the State.
He was the genius that directed the
reformers two years ago in the sue
cessful organization Of the Legisla-
ture. He 1t was who suggested the
Of the caucus. When
Patterson withdrew from the contest
FOR Governor last summer and an at
tempt was made to stampede the in
dependents into the harmony" camp
Luke Lea threw the whole weight Of
his influence and all the power of his
paper on the side of the fusion candfs
late.
As q publisher Luke Lea has been
successful. Four years
ago he established a second morning
paper In Nashville to fight for the re-
'orms that he advocated. The opposi.
ton was strongly entrenched. The
American was the organ OF the admin
stration. It was backed by the pow
srful liquor and corporate interests
Of the State. But within four years
Lea had put his competitor out Of
MS business and is now the principal
owner and publisher of the only morn
ng paper at the capital OF the State. |
AS a pupublisher he has witnessed
he enactment into laws Of almost ev- |
cry reform that he advocated. He has