The Columbia herald. [volume] (Columbia, Tenn.) 18??-1935, 1911-11-10
WHAT ABOUT HARMONY?

a fairer proposition, one more truly
Democratic, than that made by the
Independent Democratic State Com
mittee to the Vertrees faction of the
party. 1t breathes in its every line
a sincere purpose to obtain ha, mony
on just and equitable basis ard il
is Democratic to the core. 1t pro-
poses the good old Democratic doc
trine of the rule of the majority fairly
and honestly obtained.
If there is really any sentiment
for settlement of difference in the
Democratic party in the so-called
Irregular" faction this proposition will
be- promptly accepted. For if, as the
regulars" claim, they constitute a
large majority of the Democracy of
the State, they have nothing to fear
from minority in primary that
would be perfectly fair and jointly
conducted. On the other hand they
give the lie to their professions or
Democracy if, knowing they are in
the minority, they decline to sabide
the will of the majority of the party.
True as these statements are, ana
they will not be successfully con-
troverted, The Herald doubts very
seriously the acceptance of the Bar
ton proposition. Outside of the Chat
tanooga Times it has failed to OBJ
serve any very decided demand for
harmony among the organs of the
Vertrees faction. And with the ex-
ception of Adams, ]. E. Jones, and a
few minor leaders none of the promin-
ent and dominant factors of the reg
ulars" has declared for an honorable
and amicable adjustment.
However, even should the proposal
be accepted there would be no set
Element Of the real issues upon which
the Democratic party has been rent
Abiding harmony where there is such
rank difference of opinion among the
members of an organization touching
vital questions, is going to be very
difficult matter to secure. Democrats
ere now, have been and will continue
to be divided upon many important
state issues, foremost among them
being that of the enforcement of the
law. They are also hopelessly divid-
ed on the liquor question. Thous-
ands of Democrats believe that the
liquor traffic is an infamous and inl-
quitious evil and therefore inderen-
sible, hence the State cannot afford
to be party to it by granting any
sort, of license to engage therein. On
the other hand there are thousands
OF Democrats who believe in licen-
sing the liquor traffic, who refuse to
see the evil in the saloon that is plain
to Others
And the same divisions mark the
Republican party. A very consider
able faction of the Republican party
is ever ready to make an alliance
with the liquor Democrats if such an
alliance will advance the liquor IN
terests. The "split" in the RepublI-
can party is illustrated in the fight
that is being made on Congressman
Sells, of the first district. Sells has
made an efficient and capable repre-
sentative and deserves an endorse
ment But he has MORALLY offended
the liquor interests, and the liquor
Republicans have conspired With the
liquor Democrats to defeat him.
In other words the line of division
between the forces who believe In
law enforcement and Temperance is |
not line of party division. The
time is coming when there will be !
upon National party Is
sues, but its coming is no more GER
tain than the arrival of the day when
there will be realignment in Ten
nessee upon State party issues.
The Herald is an Independent Dem
ocratic newspaper. Whatever may
be the result Of conventions or prim-
aries, 1t ever reserves the right to
support those candidates and espouse
those policies which in its humble
judgment will best serve the public
interests. 1t will not be the organ OF
any party but will at all times exert
It's influence as becomes an independ-
ent journal having no interest in gov
eminent save that born of a wish
that it be honestly and faithfully ad-