Lawrence democrat. (Lawrenceburg, Tenn.) 1884-1925, 1912-07-24


which nearly every State officer has
been chosen for the past several years.
II the Democratic party thinks that
white voters are able 10 select . Gov.
eTnor for Tennessee, must 1t not agree
that white voters can more intsllisSatly
settle the moral questioai
Whs the constitution provides for
the election Of United States Senator Ay
the Legislature, yet the hArd.fOught con
test between Senator Robert L. Taylor
and Senator E. w. Csrmaek Was bus
primary in which only qualified voters
participated, and ths Legislature, respect.
ing the expressed viii Of the people,
formally confirmed their choice. Bvon
child should understand that u
United States Senator eau be selected
BY . primary, 80 can = moral question
bs submitted 10 a primary vote and the
result enacted into law. The question
Of the sale Of liquor in many OF the
towns and cities Of Tennessee has been
settled in this same manner
Every intelligent lawyer knows that
the Supreme Court Of Tennessee has de-
sided, not only that such primaries can
be had, but that they can be surrounded
by all necessary safeguards. The case
Of Logger Wood m. Pitts, 14th Gates, so
holds. Should a majority of the intelli-
gent people Of Tennessee declare In favor
Of the enjoyment of this privilege by
the larger cities, being Democrat, be-
heving in republican form OF govern
ment and the rule OF the majority, l
would say let ihe privilege be enjoyed
by the larger cities; but should the ma.
IOrity deny this privilege. would have
them at the same time to provide
through the Legislature = means by which
the enforcement Of the laws can be
compelled.
An increasing Of the executive power
would not be necessary to accomplish
this end. A system Of interchange OF
Judges and attOrneys-general might be
applied so as to hang crepe on the door
of every saloon in Nashville in thirty
days. There is no more reason for an
open saloon in Nashville than there II
for an open saloon in Lebanon. With
the great State of Tennessee behint
, them, Oh, what an easy matter it woult
be for q Judge and an attOrney-genera
TO enforce the law The man who rep
ressnts an interest that is afraid to b.
, submitted to . vote Of the best people
Of the State, represents an intereS
!. whose right Of existence is questionable
Psrhaps many Of you are asking ho'
l would vote were this proposition to b
!. submitted a. suggest. Let me leave yO
. not in doubt. Let me assure you, since
4 have aIways cast my vote on the exereis
!. have been old enough to exercise the righ
+. of suffrage, have always cast my vot
q on the moral side of ayeTY question, an
n 90 long as ! live think will. Unit
a the law prohibiting the sale Of Whiske
q. is submitted to the white voters Of th
q State, it must not be repealed; and unit
II il is repealed it mast be enforced.
" The state of lawlssSnsss now indulge
In by the cities Is = cancer upon II
body of the State. 1t is menace to II
II whole society. It stamps its demOrali
a Tag effect not only upon the iurisdictiO
9, where it is permitted, but it overleaI
" that jurisdiction and carries its ban
n. full influence into other sections.
us breeds contempt for law 1t max
ID crime bold and arrogant. 1t makes
a. to come forth from its place of hidiI
N. and stalk about in broad daylight vii
ed impunity.
az The officers of the Eighth Judici
ct Circuit have just as much right to
in. fuse to enforce the law as the office
L. of Shelby County. When all the Of
ed GERS of the State of Tennessee refuse
;st enforce the laws of Tennessee, what ha
At. you but a state OF anarchy They II
ID us that the laws cannot be enforce
oi The small saloon keeper without t
as segregated district, the country boz
=. logger, tells another tale. The count
oo crap shooter, the country bOotlsgG
ara serves his time upon the county ro
in. while Cherry Street gathers in the co
"a This condition must be cured I
an. power to correct it can oHly come frC
nv the people, Not 70 submit the questi
to the people-not to let them settle il
en-. not to get from them the power to co
lar pei enforcement means fusion and De
20 ocratic defeat, and the continued rule
.siF lawlossness in Tennessee.
,ty The Tax Question.
ia. Perhaps the greatest reason for
b. sling the whiskey question and taxi
,uc. it out OF the pOhtics OF the State,
red because its agitation has clouded
ksv minds Of the voters and claimed tn
.ere attention to the neglect of all other
ZEN, pOrtant questions OF state
rith You can hardly find a man anywh
tn, who is not posted on the whlskey q
/. tion in all OF Its phases. Should he
out be as we'll posted on the tax system
,oso the Slater By the act approved
A, Benton McMillin, Governor in 1901
,try amended in 1908, the Comptroller is
a tic powered to appoint three revenue age
10, one for each of the grand divisions
ues.l the State. Upon these officers is
roe, ferred dual power. First, they
. al .,,.Lor;,ad to collect ALI amounts