Lawrence democrat. (Lawrenceburg, Tenn.) 1884-1925, 1912-07-03
Padgett to Voters of
Seventh Cong. Dist.
Present Congressman Appeals
to Voters of His District for
Approval of HIs Stewardship.
To the Voters Of the Seventh Congress.
sional District Of Tennessee.

alohdi blblIlGt OF tennessee
Again coming before you to ask
continuance Of your confidence aud the
renewal Of your commission 10 repre-.
sent you in the Congress Of the United
States, ] desire to express very sincere.
lY my appreciation aud gratitude Of
the kindness and honor you have shown
me in the past. / have endeavored TO
serve you faithfully aud we'll, The re.
cord Of my service is public and invite
consideration thereof and believing that
/ have rendered faithful service TO my
people ask a renewal Of their conf
dence aud support believe that my
experience and training will enable me
TO render my country a better service
and that the important positions that !
have secured in the recognition oil Con
gress will enable me 10 be Of larger
usefulness 10 my people
am Democrat because | believe
in the principles and policies Of the
Democratic party and in the theories Of
government advocated by the Demo
cratic party. For more than thirty
years have labored for the success Of
these principles and the triumphs of the
Democratic party, and no one can say
that have done or said anything that
has caused in any way the unfortunate
and unhappy conditions which have in
the recent past existed in the State.
! have at all times counseled peace, ad-
Vised harmony and sought TO prevent
disturbances in the party. | believe
that Democracy means the welfare, hap
piness and prosperity Of the people, the
betterment of the country and the up
lift Of civilization. do not believe
that Democracy consists OF political
tricks, manipulation or resort to poili-
cal sharp practices. No man can be a
true Democrat and be false TO his
try or his people. Democracy means
substance and not semblance. This is
the Democracy that for thirty years |
have advocated and which | now pro-
claim, and if elected shall labor for
those things which believe will make
the people happier and more prosper
Gus and the conditions of the country
better.
Heretofore it has been the unbroken
usage and custom Of the party to hold
the congressional primary in August
This year from some mysterious reason,
the Congressional Committee met Feb.
ruary 9th. and called the primary for
April 9th, which action not only
overturned the established customs of
the party but was a great injustice TO
me personally, as it was we'll known
that my duties in Washington would
not permit me to leave and that would
have no opportunity to see the people
or present my claims personally, And
the Committee, in violation of all the
past practices and customs of the party
established rules for said primary that
practically DISTINGUISHED six or eight
thousand Democrats from participating
in the primary. As soon as the action
of the Committee was made known Wig
orOus pr .ests in the several counties
of the district we're made against The
unfair and undemocratic action of thu
Committee, and in some of the countc
mass meetings of Democrats were hell
and in other counties petitions wer
circulated and signed by Democrat
asking the Committee to reconsider an,
/, rescind its action and hold a primar
at the usual time and under CuStomar
rules so that all Democrats could PAL
lcipate, but these requests we're ignOl
ed and these petitions of the Democrat
denied. The wrongs and injustice {
\ these actions of the Committee were S
fragrant and the purpose to disfranchis
from participation in the primary
large number of Democrats was
plain, that all over the district thou
ands of Democrats declared their pu
. pose not to recognize or participate
said primary, and published a stat
ment to the Democrats setting forth tt
injustice of the action of the Commute
= to me aud to the Democracy, and Thu
| would not enter said primary.
Following this action of the commi
tee the dissatisfaction among the demo
S Gratis became so great that was II
quested to meet with Representative
Democrats from the different countic
of the district composed of both faction
of the party, which did March 15u