The Birmingham age-herald., 1911-04-14

liean and IA Independent democratic members of the Tennessee legislature have gone to Decatur, Ala, presumably for the purpose of forestallng further Legislation pending some action where by the amendment to the state cleo tion law as passed yesterday by tho house of representatives can be over come The Knoxville Sentinel this morning received the following tele- gram from Representative Jesse C. Groner of the Knox county delega- ton:
 Decatur Ala April 1S.c
 gro The Sentinel. Knoxville. Tenn:
 Twenty republicans and IA inde- pendent democrats. of Tennessee legis- lature gathered here. Have taken up cur abode here for six months or long CT Like this town fine. Send us pa pers. JESSE c. GROWER" Nashville April 13.=The legislative situation tonight is still very much clouded The 34 republicans and in dependent democratic representatives are still at Decatur Ala, while the regular democrats and the independent democrats and republicans who joined them in support of the new election laws are holding the fort, each side expressing determination to hold out to the end. Unless the runaways re- turn there can be no appropriation bills or revenue and assessment meas ures, v and the wheels of government will #have to cease revolving. There will be no money for schools, or any other ls{agency of government. The regulars along with Speak CT Leach and Repre- &.s entative Swan, independents, held a aucus this afternoon and resolved to stand pat.
 Friends of the runaway representa- tives gave out q statement this after noon in the course of which they say the representatives were elected on pledges to uphold the prohibition and election laws, and that they have taken their present course in order to pre- vent the nullification of these statutes. They insist in their statement, that the two independent democrats and three republicans who yesterday voted for the election bill have violated their < pledges. The so-called whisky inter 4 ests are alleged to be behind the move N ment to nullify the election laws, in order to get hold of the election ma chnery and eventually repeal the pro- hibiIion statutes
 2he senate this afternoon, 20 to II, concurred in the house election bill In the debate, which was bitter, Sen ator Houk, republican leader, made a severe attack on Newell Sanders, state IepuDllcdn c0dlTIndn, dnu IOVeTnOr Hooper. Houls and Davis, republicans both voted for the election bill to- day.
 Decatur. April -(Special)-The loby of the Hotel Echos today resembled the chambers of the state capitol of Tennes- see in Nashville when the Tennessee state legislature is in session. To a num- her of Tennesseans in the Decaturs who happened to walk into the Echols hotel the sight was a most familiar one, as they at once recognized a number of well known members of their state legislature
 There Is a rumor afloat here that these members may be arrested and taken back to Tennessee on requisition papers.
 We propose to stay right here in De- catur until the legislature of Tennessee adjourns," said one of the members.
 Their Official Statement
 The first and only official statement that has been given out by the filibustering delegation of the Tennessee legislature 34 strong, which is now in Decatur, was given tonight as follows:
 ITO "a, People of Tennessee:
 "Wlsn on January ? of this year the legislature of Tennessee assembled, the express wish of the people of the state in regard to the temperance and election laws had been plainly expressed by the fact that 54 of the members of the lower house were elected on platforms declaring for, tHu were pltuStQ to, tI1t IfldHlteIdIice ol the present temperance and election laws "In the beginning of the session the Tom Taylor democrats refused to participate because they knew they were not able to control and the fusion forces pledged themselves verbally and solemnly to stand for the principles of the platforms of the independent democrat~and republican par ties, and organized bySelecting as tempor- i ary aed permanent speakers Representa- tives J. Fl. Swan, Jr., from Sullivan coun- ty and 4 M- Leach from Montgomery county. respectively. both not only hav-i \ ing been elected as independent demo- crats. but also having signed an agree ment to never vote for any change In the # election laws and temperance laws as en- x acted by the legislature yin 1909, but to- * stand by the said laws to the end. as they were then enacted and now. Having been honored in this way these two representatives showed their appreciation of the honors conferred upon them by entering into a contract or obli- eation with the Tom Taylor democrats and few republicans to betray the side tn which they were pledged and assist h. replacing the machine which the will of the people had throttled through the les islature of 1909, again in power in Ten. ressee.
 Republicans Joined Conspiracy
 ''Three republicans. for reasons which VIC do not care to uiScuSS, Joiheu III iiio conspiracy or combination, these repuc- licans having been electei on platform which advocated the maintenance of the temperance and election laws as enacted in 1909, and in this manner the minority was by treason turned into a majority s composed of Tom Taylor democrats. un- faithful independent democrats and un- faithful republicans.
 "Therefore we feel that we are pledged
 to the people of Tennessee 10 do what we can to keep these laws upon the statute books of said state and recogniz-
 ing that one of the most unfair and i,
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