Lawrence democrat. (Lawrenceburg, Tenn.) 1884-1925, 1912-10-09

serve without compensation; and
these six men shall formulate a
draft Of general assessment
statute containing the ideas here
In expressed; and this draft shall
be made and perfected and placed
before both branches Of the Legis-
lature for their action as early
as possible during the next Leg
islative session"
WHAT HAS HOOPER DONE?
What constructive legislation has
the Governor TO his credit? What re-
form has he inaugurated7 What
great or good accomplishment will
stand forth to distinguish him7 Not
one. There is nothing 20 raise his
administration above The level Of cont
mon medl0critU. Having served the
public so long and in so many capaci-
ties, If had not been faithful and
efficient in my service he had an ex-
cellent opportunity to show Il by my
record, yet, when he made his speech
Of acceptance a few days ago in Nash
vile, and was threshing around for
something upon which to build a hope,
he did not dare assail a single official
act of my four years as Governor,
twenty years in Congress, nor in any
other Of the capacities in which |
had served the public. / consider my
self fortunate to have such a record
as is beyond his attask after so long
a service. In every office / have held
my record stands for economy in pub
lie expenses, watchfulness in the dis
charge Of public duty, fearlessness in
the advocacy and promulgation of
those principles and policies | believe
best for my country. On taxation, in
Congress, fought ever against trusts,
for reduction Of tariff taxes, and was
the author of Income Tax Law passed
by Congress. During my adminstra-
ton of State affairs | succeeded with
the aid of the Legislature in creating
Sinking Fund which has paid more
than $5,0O0,000 of our bonded indebt-
edness and shown our people that the
remaining deot can be funded and paid
in reasonable time without oppression.
| The uniform textbook law was passed,
which improved the textbooks, re-
duced their cost about one-third and
directly and indirectly has saved to
the people very many hundred thou
sands dollars. The law was enacted
abolishing unnecessary Offices, thereby
saving $4,000 per annum. The peni-
Tertiary was put under such manage
ment as not only to be self-sustaining
but to pay hundreds of thousands into
the Treasury. A bill was passed rails
ing the age of consent and protecting
girlhood from rapine and ruin. We
passed the laws for the examination
of mine foremen and to make life
more secure for those who have to
labor in the mines; also the child la
Dor law, taking children out of fac
tories that they might be educated
and grow up to manhood and woman
hood unhampered and unstinted. The
factory inspection law was enacted.
! The Board of Pardons was created to
insure more accurate information re-
garding pardons sought and the rule
! adopted of calling on judges and at
| torneys general for information con-
corning pardon applications made by
those convicted in their court.
Fellow citizens, there are many 9TH
er questions that | would love to dis
cuss with you but time forbids. They
are embraced in our platform, upon
which | stand and with which | agree.
| hope to take them up in future dis
cussions in this campaign. You ask
me what are our prospects? They are
splendid, both State and National.
We were beaten by only 1000 and
odd votes in this State two years ago,
with 10000 Democrats not voting,
with out party divided and the Re-
! publican party united. To-day there
is not a county where Democracy is
not in better fix than it was in 1910.
There is not a county in which the
Republican party is not in worse con-
dition than it was in 1910 They are
hopelessly divided, State and National,
with two candidates for Governor, two
for President and no pie counters in
sight. We have the daily press, week
ly press, and people with US as we did
not have before, and our victory is
assured. But let us fight every hour
as if the destiny of the conflict hung
thereon. In the Presidential conflict
prospects could not be brighter. A
united Democracy, a divided Repub-
lican party assures our success. Have
you heard from Maine and from Yer
mont? If so, you know from the
wiping out of Republican majorities
there that our triumph is certain.
One word in conclusion. I come
not to plead my cause alone, but also
to urge you to vote for Woodrow Will
son, Thomas r. Marshall and Harvey
H. Hannah and to implore you to
stand by the Democratic nominees all
along the line. urge you in the
name of not only our party but of
our country to stand by the Demo-
cratic party from top to bottom in the
contest. 1t has been the great con-
servatiye force in government since
the fathers framed this great Repub-
lie. 1t has upheld the Constitution;
it has enforced the law; it has stood
by the rights of the State; it has
Opposed the encroachments not only of
the Government against the States,
but the expressions of the weak by the
mighty hence it has resisted to the
death of all force bills, all trust COM
binations and all robbery of the many
for the benefit of the few. You old
men in this audience, who were dis
franchised and driven from the nolls