The Newport plain talk. (Newport, Tenn.) 1909-1939, 1912-08-22
NEAR DEATH FOR THREE
in SWITCH ENGINE SMASH
SAM SELLS
IS PLEASED
In An Interview From Washing
ton Says Democratic Conven-
ton Makes Hooper Winner.

Washington, d. G., Aug. 16-lnter.
est has been manifested among dem.
ocrals and republicans alike in Wash.
ington over the action of the demo.
cratic convention at Nashville on yes
terday, and particularly with respect
to the platform adopted. The first
news ofthe convention came to Wash.
ington from the banner, and was read
withavidity. Republicans both from
Tennessee and with the state are re-
joicing at the action of the con-
vention. Many of them declare that
instead of being democratic conven-
tion it turned out to be "Hooper aid
society,"" Washington republicans are
unhesitatingly predicting the Te-elec-
tion of Hooper by much increased
majority. The action taken on the
liquor question is regarded as too dis
tinct and bold backward step as re-
lating 10 the temperance question in
Tennessee, Democrats here are eagerly
awaiting the arrival of details of the
convention proceeding.
One OF those who was greatly pleas
ed by the action of the convention was
Congressman Sam r, Sells republi-
oon of tho fret I;ef r;ot
81 confess l was surprised at the
boldness of the convention in coming
out and actually declaring for the
manufacturers law and the four-mile
law, as the latter applied to large
cities" said Mr.Sells today. The liqu-
or question has been the issue in Tenn
essee between the two parties for sew
eral years. There have been various
analyses as to the cause of the split in
the democratic party, but it has been
solely on account of the liquor ques-
tion. My judgement is that Governor
Hooper will be reelected by an increas-
ed majority and say that for two
reasons:-
"First-The late Senator Taylor
was an ifinitely stronger man than is
Benton McMillin. Thousands of
men in Tennessee voted for him last
November solely on personal grounds
that can't be predicted in the case of
Benton McMilin.
"Second-l believe the nomination
of Poston will be beneficial to Hooper.
Without.a doubt practically every
vote Poslon gets will be vote that
would otherwise have gone to McMil-
lin, and which unquestionably did go
to Bob Taylor two years ago.
."Speaking for myself, am glad the
democratic party has taken this po-
sition. Any man acquainted with
Tennessee politics has known or ought
to know that the democratic organiza-
ton, or it would be more charitable to
say the so-called democratic organiza-
tion in Tennessee, for several years
has been owned lock, stock and barrel
by the liquor interests, and this last
declaration of yesterday shows that
there has been no change of owner
ship.
at seems simply to be case of
where designing men, serving a spe-
cial and vicious interest, have dragged
and prostituted the name of great
party. and made it the tool and bond
servant of the liquor traffic by label
ing it democracy.
81 was merely looker-on i'm the re-
cent efforts to harmoniZe the two
factions of the democratic party. The
independent democrats showed thai
they wanted harmony, if it could be
obtained by honorable means. From
beginning TO iend, however, their e!-
forts were repudiated and rebuffed by
tie regulars. can account for it by
no other hypothesis Than that the
regulars minimize the strength of the
independent vote in Tennessee, and do
uOt realize what the republicans
know that there can not be any dem-
ocratic success in Tennessee without
independent vote. /, is unquestion-
ably more than the balances of power
in Tennessee.
ayes, the convention was a big sue
cess from a republican standpoint, |
might say.
Mr.. Sells said the same-old fight
was on between the friends of temper
ance and good government and Pat
tersonism and the allied whiskey in
terests.
The only differences between now
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