Sequachee Valley news. (Sequachee [Sequatchie], Tenn.) 1896-1952, 1912-10-24

/ uBtfsy IN tndh 9-cJIcu AhNO SUFFERED, ~
are likely to suffer from the competition
of eonFict labor and to the end that this
con0Ition may be remedied.
The Four-Mile Law and Law Enforce
nent.
l have discussed many questions that
pertain TO the material welfare of the
state, and nearly all of them involve
some moral phase or consideration. You
have heard me as to many matters rel
alive to the orderly and business-like con-
duct of your public affairs. | now de-
sire to call your thoughtful attention for
little while to two related questions
that oyershadow in Importance all other
matters of controversy before the people
OF Tennessee.
A condition prevails in certain SEQ
tions of this state that would have been
thought possible ten years ago. A situa-
ton exists that challenges the suprem-
aey of the law and threatens the SOW
ereignty of the state.
Do not think for moment that l
refer to the occasional violation OF the
four-mile law by the elusive bootlegger
in the towns and villages. That IS a
small matter. | speak OF the organized
systematic, defiant notification of the
four-mile law in the four cities Of this
state. At no time within the history
of Tennessee have our free institutions
been so alarmingly imperiled or our re-
publican form OF government so leopard
lied.
In 1877 our state enacted what has
always been known as the four-mile law.
This law forbade the sale of intOXicat-
ing liquor within four of schoOlhOuse,
except in incorporated towns. The law
was statewide and state-long in its ap'
plication to country territory. 1t cCn-
tanned no local option feature, and was
submitted to no referendum. !. was
enacted by the legislature and signed
by the Governor, and became 4 sacred
law of Tennessee, under the sanction of
our constitution. 1t interfered with the
fetish of personal liberty occasionally,
and was TO respacter of the idol of self
government; and yet, Benton McMillin's
platform says that this was the best
and wisest temperance policy ever in
augurated i'll any state Tor the prohibl-
ton of the sale of liquor" 10 this /
say amen and amen.
Not Enforced.
This law was not perfectly enforced
anywhere There We're sporadic viola
tions of it, just as there were of the
statutes forbidding gambling, larceny,
etc, but this was to be expected, and did
not often assume alarming proportions.
The fact that the law was violated now
and then did not prevent its being the
"best and wisest ever inaugurated." 1t
banished the frowning grogshop from the
presence of the schoolhouse, and pro
tected the little children who gathered
there.
towns of the state became convinced
that their schoolhouses were as sacred,
and their children as dear to them and
as valuable to the state as were those
outside of the municipalities. There WIS
a great flood of bills in every legisla-
ture to repeal municipal charters in 81
der that small towns might be rid of
the saloon. Finally there grew mp a
sentiment in favor of extending Inc four
mile law to Incorporated towns rather
than compelling them to surrender their
charters to exclude the saloon. | was
one of the first men who ever introduced
a bill of this character, away back in
1898. 1t did not pass, but in subse
quent legislatures the four-mile law was
extended to incorporated towns, step by
step, until, at last, every town and city
in the state was covered except Nash
vile, Memphis, Chattanooga and La
Toilette.
Then, in the Legislature of 1909, after
Carmack had been shot to death as the
result of his courageous fight upon the
saloons and their political allies, law
was enacted extending the four-mile law
to the four large cities | have just men
toned. Thus the state finally reached |
the position that every rule of sound |
morals, good government and civic de-
,ency that protected the schoohouse, the
children and the citizen in the country |
rom the saloon should also obtain in |
favor of the town am the city.
So 1t will be seen chat the growth of |
,ur ur-mile law has been gradual, but |
no edward step has ever yet been
AK and | stand for the people in this
stat no declare that none ever shall be.
Political Hypocrisy.
9ater political hypocrisy was
" iced than that eXempliiied by
mt pam IA VIC IdGLcl
I4Dhll platform. 1t is filled with insn-
Gritty and inconsistency from one end
q the other. Its declaration of friend.
hip to the four-mile law is the friend
hip eff the wolf for the lamb. The in
luences which dominated that conyen-
ion have fought the fouf4iile law at
very, step of It's victorious progress. !.
They would today laine il sS the, st
tie hooksAaak
) .equivocal They
.sked its applica
hat they now
he saloon to
ctuallv vote a