The Columbia herald. [volume] (Columbia, Tenn.) 18??-1935, 1912-01-19
HARMONY.


party, is clearly shown in the actor
taken by the Vertrees committee. AL
though the plan adopted by the com
mittee is practically the same as tina
proposed months ago by the indie
pendent committee it is evident thai
the bosses of the committee were
thinking more about the dignity Of
the committee" and preservation Of
its authority than they were about
the welfare of the party, for other
wise the proposal made by the indie
pendent committee would have been
very promptly accepted.
Whether or not the Independent
committee will accept the plan offered
by the Vertrees organization we can
not say, not being in the confidence
of any factional or party machine,
but il that organization is really sin
cere in it's desire for settlement OF
party differences the plan will be
promptly accepted. To take any 9th
er action would prove the committee
as devoid of real interest In party
welfare as the Vertrees committee
has shown itself to be. To be really
consistent the Barton organization
must accept the olive branch despite
evidence that it was most grudging-
ly tenlered.
Assuming that the Barton commit
tee will agree to the peace proposals
what will the ultimate effect be pom
the Democratic party in Tennessee?
Will W ehave real and genuine harmo-
ny or only a semblance of it. Will
our harmony be real or spurious?
Will the joint primary settle any of
the issues upon which the Democrat
ic party OF the State has been rent
in twain? Will factional lines disap-
pear?
These are the real questions that
must address themselves to the stu
dent of actual conditions in Tonnes
see. They readily suggest themselves
to all who are familiar with the cius-
es for the breach in the Democratic
party.
The Democratic party in Tennessee
split IN twain upon questions Of prin
ciple, not about the candidacy Of in
dividuals. No single one of those is
sues has been permanently settled.
They are still bone of contention
between the discordant elements of
the party. The joint primary offers
no prospect whatever for a settle
ment of these issues. That primary
will merely decide the personnel Of
the party ticket. The convention,
where the party's declaration of prin-
ciples and policies will be made. is
to be held three weeks later and af-
ter the voters have tied their hands
by participation in the primary and
voting for delegates.
What assurance will the Inderend-
emit yoter, who has for six long years
waged upceasing warfare against the
domination of the liquor power in
Tennessee, who has placed state
above party, who has seen his chos-
en- leader fall in the midst of the
fray, nave that the nominee Of the
April primary will not be reaction
airy, subservient tool of the fac
ton which in the recent legislature
sought through q combination of the
worst elements of the Republican
party, to again foist the liquor power
and the lawless element upon the reo-
pie of the state?
Will he blindly walk into a prima-
ry which may prove the undoing of
every reform that he has helped to
accomplish these four years Of sun,
shine and shadow?
These are questions that must adj
dress themselves to the consciences
of the individual voters. How many
of them will answer in the afirma-
tive we cannot say. We do not know.
Every citizen must decide for him
self. The great army of independ-
ent voters may make mistakes but
they have fought too well, too ear
nestly, too courageously and too SELF
sacrihcingly to take step now with
out knowing the consequences of
their acts
The Herald does not speak for any
party or faction. It is an ndepend-
ent Democratic journal, placing the
welfare of the State above that Of