The Birmingham age-herald., 1911-07-08
Rank and File of Republi- cans Jubilant Over Leg
 islative Outcome
HOOPER SHREWD IN
 HANDLING SITUATION
But He Has Made Some Dangerous Enemies-Session of Legisla- ture Came to Close
 Yesterday
pr PAUL W. TREANOR

By PAUL w. TJtEANOh
 Nashville. Tenn, July 7.-tSpeciai)-one of the chief sensations today, the clos ing one of the filibustering legislature, was the report that Senator John l. COX and Representative Miller of Shelby were to mix up in a personal difficulty at the adjournment hour.
 Ex-Governor Cox had previously de- nounoed Miller for publishing the state ment that he created the salary grab that was defeated by the ingenuity or Governor Cox yesterday. Miller had been kept at home, 1t is asserted. by the per siasion of his colleges, as he IS con- sidered a dangerous man when he Is wrought up.
 When he appeared unexpectedly on the scene this morning sensational reports started and the situation was not re- lieved until Miller was called home to- night, However, he bitterly denounced the ex-governor on the floor of the house.
 Mayor Crump, who is held accountable for the regulars not being able to get fair play on the election board for the presidential fight next year, had to take bitter medicine in the senate under the leadership of Senator Cox. The latter had all of his Memphis improvement bills previously recalled from the house and they were sent flying to the table.
 With "valer written for the 1911 Ten nessee general assembly, and all Of the strenuous efforts of the regular democrats to amend the election laws so that they might have look-in on the election in ilie presidential contest next year proving fruitless the rank and file of the repuo- liean party over the state are in Juoi- fiant mood over the prospects of Tennessee going into the column of the G. o. P. next year.
 Democratic leaders become grave when approached on this subject and those who are inclined to fight to the last d1tch say that the only way the state can be saved for the democrats is to march to the polls next year with shotguns ana see that justice is done them. In the eubernatorial contest last fall between Bob Taylor and Governor Hooper the democrats got the "hinlSy dink," and in 20 of the 96 counties of the state, the domi- nant party did not have single election officer.
 But the fusion press of the capital and Of the state over are claiming that With one democrat on the state election board 1his year no unfairness can be charged This one man under the law has the au- thorty to name one county commissioner, but the thing about ends at that. This county commissioner can name orly one of the election officers, a judge, against eight others to hold the election, and the knowing ones in Tennessee politics say that the one man at the polling places will be mere figurehead to safeguard the interests of the democrats in the cleo ton for President and all of the state of ficers ses
 Already there is talk of the organza- ton of the negro vote for the G. o. P. ticket, and preparation for a tremendous vote in the mountain districts where the republicans are so strong-in some in- stances it will be difficult to get even that one man to serve on the list of cleo ton officers
 Hooper Still the Choice
 It is now conceded on all sides that Governor Hooper will again be the choice of the fusionists after the shrewdness displayed In the past few closing days of the legislature.
 With the report prominent over the state three weeks ago that he was in the mountains of east Tennessee a hopeless mental wreck, who would never again be able to. resume the du- ties of his office. he returned to Nash vile with the return Of the flibusters, who exiled to Alabama in July, and since then has been dealing master strokes at the dominant party in Ten nessee, aided by Newall Sanders. who is now carrying Tennessee around in his vest pocket for Taft and the pres- idency next year.
 The democrats had the fusionists on the go up to two weeks ago when Mayor Crump of Memphis went over 10 them to save his own scalp and get favorable election officers for his con- ing contest for selection in the fall. With the situation closed as to any danger of change in the election law that would give the democrats chance the democratic leaders became crest fallen and the governor and his sup porters more bold
 But the democrats had the 'holler" on the reform fusionists by asserting that the prohibition reform leaders did not want to be square and were not consistent in making deal with the alleged whisky forces of Memphis, and it seemed that for campaign thunder the democrats had the best of it.
 However passing the appropriation bill that contained the salary grab, gave Governor Hooper an opening and he grasped the opportunity. It did not matter that some of the fusionists voted for the bill. He attacked 1t and. for the first time in Tennessee po- litical history he. had committees ap pointed to confer with him and forced the members to cut things right and left until the bill came into the bounds of the possible receipts and also cut the salary grab from S66,000 to $26000.
 He is praised for this all over the state. as he is also being praised for his at tack on the assessment bill which he said ,xCQNtained a shrewd system of graft In the SE ANsions relating to the revenue agents, z eting from the office of state comp lkernor Hooper at the close also re- X -(hed the friendship of the labor leaders X&1a strong advocacy of the fellow serv- Nts bill when he had lost that favor by 44rler opposition to the plumbers bill f1'oday in Tennessee he is master and Ute democrats are forlorn over the loss tVf the election machinery.
 ef Bought at Great Sacrifice b But Governor Hooper's new supremacy was not bought without great cost. In attacking the revenue act. he incidentally attacked ex-Gov. John J. Cox. now sen ator and formerly a revenue agent
 Cox for the first time at the state cap ital. Yin public speech, brought out the facts of Governor Hooper's birth and early desertion of his mother, whom Cox charged the Governor allowed to be buried h . Birmingham potters field.