The Columbia herald. [volume] (Columbia, Tenn.) 18??-1935, 1912-06-14
BENTON M'MIllIN.

BENTON M'MiLLIN.
After hesitating for several weeks
between the senatorship and the gov
ernorship Benton McMillin has at
last decided that he would rather try
conclusions with Jimmy Frazier for
governor than with Malcolm r. for
the genate. And In this decision
Benton shows his wisuom. AZ the
orroncnt Of Frazier no will face the
weakest man In the RANKS Of the reg
mars" while 90 an opponent Of Pat
terson he would have to hght the Idol
OF the real rantankesous. died n
the wool regulars"
In our Judgment hcMillin viii
easily defeat Frazier 70, the nomina-
ton. The real fight will be between
the Carthage statesman and the
Chattanooga. There are . number
Of other agreeable gentkmen who
think they are running for governor
but their aspirations are all delu-
sion and q snars.
,kcMillin has nothing like the large
peasonal following In. Tennessee that
he once had but he has been loyal to
tho regulars" he has taken . posi-.
ton In the contests Of the past six
years; he has not lodged and shirked
and for these reasons his record has
much more In It 10 commend II 70
the regulars" than that Of Frazier.
II the latter should by any chance
get The nomination It will not be be.
cause Of any affection that the "regu-
lars have for him but the nomina-
ton will be bestowed solely upon the
ground Of availability.
McMillin has had a distinguished
publ, career. For twenty years he
was member Of congress and he
nade good representative too
The greatest mistake OF his life was
when he left congress to enter poll
tics for the purpose as he thought
Of advancing his senatorial ambition
That has been fourteen years age
and he is now no nearer the great
goal Of his ambition than he was
t1en. And during ten years of that
time he has been a statesman out
OF job Candor compels the ad
mission that McMillin made a goot
governor His administration wai
characterized by economy and there
we1L few scandals involving its
members, the most serious distur
bance being the controversy al
Brushy Mountain over the treatment
OF prisoners.
Had McMillin been more Of 9
statesman and less of a politician
had ne been less willing to sacrifice
: everything to crafty HIS ambition
for a seat in the senate he would
occ-pv higher place upon thu
States scroll of fame. His ad
m.nis.ration as Governor was mar
red by his too frequent plays OF lea
nut politics in an effort to build w
machine that would send him tt
the senate And since his retire
mont from Office he has evinced toe
great desire to punish all who die
not encourage his senatorial ambi
lions, regardless of the issues which
the campaigns might involve.
SO far as the Governors platform
goes 1t Is a good one. And it IL
noteworthy that McMilhn is the first
regular to announce In favor Of the
enforcement of the laws. This
means that he will probably have
rocky sailing with the regular
newspaper organs of Nashville and
Chattanooga. But the Governor
docs not "sing out" on the great is.
s"es that have really divided and still
div'ca tho people Of Tennessee. And
until he does his nomination Is not
going to be much more Of an asset
to MIN than was his senatorial ncmi.
nation Of two year sage.