The Columbia herald. [volume] (Columbia, Tenn.) 18??-1935, 1912-02-16

command the respect Of the disintcr
sstod members of the party and ita
decteps are without binding force
an4 effect. And when that commit
tee, in order to serve special inter.
est exceeds its power, usurps author
ity never conferred upon 1t and .'in-
stead of being the disinterested guar
lian of the party's welfare is the tool
Of particular candidate, it ceases to
represent the party and Its mandates
are null and void.
When the so-called Democratic
committee OF the seventh district at
Franklin on Friday, adopted the plan
pr escribing state qualifications for
votela in a national election, made
acquiescence in the DEGREES of the
liquor machine the supreme test of
democracy ard violated all precedent
as to date, IL became an outcast from
the favor ana respect Of the Democ-
racy of the district and cannot In the
very nature Of things expect self-re-
sIecting, Independent Democrats,
from principle alone, to follow 1t.
And in the judgment of this PAPER
very few Of the Democrats of the dis
trict who believe in fair play. who
are Democrats because of an abid-
ing conviction Of the righteousness of
Democratic principles, will follow the
committee but will treat its action
with that scorn and contempt which
1t SO richly merits.
The Herald does not know what
Mr.. Padgett will do in the circum-
stances. 1t is not the mouthpiece OF
any individual But his course will
have no effect whatever upon the at
titudc of this journal This paper
makes no fight upon individuals ex-
cept when their candidacy is a me.
mace to the best interests of it's state
and country and then it's war upon
them as individuals is merely incl
dental to its fight for good govern
ment. 1t supports no candidate for
personal reasons. 1t never advocates
the election of any individual save
as the means of securing desired re-
1crms in government.
The Herald places principle above
party; the welfare of it's state and
country above the fortues of any in.
dividual. 1t makes no war upon can. !
didates nor for candidates save az it !,
may find it necessary in order to
blaze the highway to better govern J
ment and cleaner civic life. It has |
a high appreciation of Mr.. Padgetts |
public service. 1t believes that his |
defeat at this time would be lutte i
less han distinct public calamity. |
Mr.. Padgett has acquired experience,
prestige and information which even
an adler man would not acquire in a
day or a termThese eminent qualih-
cations will re lost to the district and
the country if he is retired in order,
70 e2tje'Y the desire of a special in
,orest and al because Mr.. PaLgett
y 2u}d not bo-7 to corrupt political
machine
Put 40 one could expect this jour
lal, holding the views that it holds,
advocating the principles which are
o it the very Ark of the Covenant,
o stpltify itself by following any in
lviaaal into primary where abso
ute obedience to the liquor power is
made the supreme test And speak I
ng for the mass of the great loyal
Independent Democracy of Maury
county which has for these many
ears, in sunshine and in storm. fol
owed this paper in it's heroic strug-
lie to better conditions, political and
Moral, it males bold to proclaim that
will not be alone in the coming
ontest
The Herald will in the future, as
n the past continue its fight for right. I
or truth and for Justice; for free
ON from corrupt political machine
omiaation and when necessary to
ccomplish those ends it will not hes
ate to defy the regular" party au-
lority. The cry of "bolter" has no I
errors for this paper It is forever +
to the interests of all the
eople and it could not therefore con
stently counsel any Democrat tc
anticipate in the primary Of April :
{ where a pledge to support ali Of
Re liquor candidates for state Offices 4
mace the supreme test. t
TAFT THE FAVORiTE. $