The commercial. (Union City, Tenn.) 190?-193?, 1912-08-30
The Democratic Record.

Gratis in Tennessee that has captured
the Democratic organization in the State
to protest that the prohibition law is
non Democratic and to insist that it was
the product of fusion Legislature. +"
This is a myth easily exploded. The
history of this law is given succinctly
in the following from the Jackson Sun:
1t was through the operation of the
law known as the four-mile law, for
bidding the sale of liquor within four
miles of a schoolhouse, that the liquor
traffic was eliminated from the State.
prior to 1909 this law had been ex-
tended over the State, except as to the
cities of Memphis, Nashville, Chatta-
nooga and the town of Lafollette.
THE Legislature of 1909 extended
it to the whole State. 1t was Demo-
cratic Legislature and majority of the
Democrats of the body voted for this
law. There was then no division IN the
party, and no such thing as an INDIE
pendent Democratic party. 1t was more
than year afterward before the party
split into two factions, called regular
and independent Democrats.
There were then in the Legislature
ninety-fve regular Democrats and eight
Independents, seven of whom were local
optionists, six of them being from
Shelby County. Only one independent
was for the bill.
Upon the passage of the bill, of the
ninety-five Democrats, ninetyfour yot-
ed. OF this number fifty-three voted
for the bill and forty-one against it,
giving a majority of twelve Democrats
for the bill. Of the eight independents
one voted for the bill and seven against
it. Counting the votes of both Demo
Gratis and Independents cast against the
bill, it received a Democratic majority
of five.
Governor Patterson vetoed the bill.
Upon its passage over his veto, of the
ninety-five Democrats, ninety-two vot-
ed, fifty for the bill and forty-two against
it, giving a majority of eight Demo
Gratis for its passage. Of the INDIE
pendents, one voted for it and seven
against it. Counting both Democratic
and Independent votes cast against the
bill, it received a Democratic majority
of one"
There is no questioning the fact that
this law was reached by progressive
application of the four-miIe law, ex-
tending over period Of thirty years,
and that every extension was made by
majority of Democratic votes in the
Legislature. Prohibition legislation was
never approached so gradually any
where as in Tennessee, and the Demo-
cratic party in its record is thoroughly
committed to all that has been done.
The party was responsible for every
progressive step taken.
The Jackson Sun says, editorially,
commenting on the facts quoted above:
Notwithstanding these facts, undis
putable and of record, there are those
who know, or ought to know, better,
who make the street corners clamerous
with the cry that the temperance laws
are the product of prohibitionists, fusion
lists and Republicans.
Every temperance law upon the stat
utes of the State was put there by a
Democratic Legislature and the vote of
majority of its Democratic members.
If anyone questions your Democ-
racy because you stand for the main
tenance and enforcement of the tenn
perance laws of the State, Just tell him
they were put upon the statutes by
Democratic Legislatures and the vote
of a majority of its Democratic men,
bers; that in standing for these laws
you stand for the policy of the Demo-
cratic party, as expressed in legislation
enacted by majority of Democratic
members.
Those who favor a modification or
repeal of the law seek backward step
from the expressed legislative policy Of
the party"
Gov Patterson vetoed the extension
of the four-mile law to the larger cities
of the State and Gov. Patterson con-
trolled the recent State convention that
declared for the repeal of that law. The
Patterson Democracy has, in short, I'M
dertaken to put forth party declara-
ton in contravention of the party rec
ord. There is no reason why any Ten
nessee Democrat, through party allie
glance, should feel constrained to go in
the face of the party's record because
the Patterson following is out Of accord
with that position. Nashville Banner