Sequachee Valley news. (Sequachee [Sequatchie], Tenn.) 1896-1952, 1912-10-24

domination, of pardon brokerage, of
fraudulent primaries, OF stuffed ballot
boxes, of tyrannical conventions, of
drunken officials, of licensed crime, OF
legalized murder.
During the ten-year period from 1900
to 1910, McMillin, Frazier, Cox and Pat
terson were the Governors of Tennessee;
McMillin and Patterson took up over
half the decade.
The Federal census shows that during
this ten years Tennessee stagnated. The
nation as q whole increased its popula-
ton twenty-siX per cent, while Iennes-
sees population increased only ST. per
cent. This gain was the smallest of all
the Southern States, except one, and was
the smallest in the history OF our State.
What little increase of population the
State had in the cities. The country
population showed less increase than that
of any other State in the South.
The State
In wealth Tennessee dropped in ten
years from seventh to fifth place among
the Southern States.
In agriculture the state made an ex-
tremely bad showing. In some of the
farm products an actual decrease was
shown. Her percentage of increase in
the value of farm property was less than,
half that of North Carolina, South Caro-
line, Alabama, Georgia and Florida.
When | called attention to these regret
table figures in certain speeches and a
message to the Legislature more than -.
year ago, and more in detail then than
have the time to do now, the thinking
people OF the State were greatly aston
ished and concerned. They asked, as did
the outside world, what is the mGtter
with TennesseeY" 1t could be readily
seen that the fault was not that of ma
ture. Our state possesses natural re-
sources wonderful in their variety and
profusion, and climatic and living condi-
tons mrivaled in attractiyeness and
healthfulness. Not one Of the Southern
States which have outs tripped Tennessee
is her equal in these respects. Our search
for the cause of her tagging in the race
of progress must inevitably lead us to
the laws upon her statute books, the
manner of their enforcement and the
general political conditions that have pre-
vailed. This is the conclusion that has
been reached by the observant business
men of the state.
Present Administration.
It therefore becomes pertinent to in
quire as to what has been done by the
present administration to improve condi-
tions and advance the growth and pros
perity of the state.
| came into office at period of the
greatest political turbulence that this
state has ever witnessed in times of
peace. After | had been chosen Cover
nor in an election pronounced to be
"singularly free from fraud" by the
Commercial Appeal, great opposition
paper, the desperate political machine
which my following defeated at the polls
plotted for many days to rob me of the
governorship and the people of their vic
tory. The lack of power, and not re-
spect for the will of the people, was all
that restrained them from this outrage.
In the city of Nashville, after the re-
suit was we'll known, bets were made
by men close to the machine that
would never take the oath of office as
Governor. My Inauguration was de-
ferred until it became known that | was
preparing to be sworn into office with
out formalities.
In the meantime the old machine was
busy appointing men to offices which
should properly have been filled by me,
grinding out a large farewell batch Of
pardons, and laying plans to perpetuate
some of their number in power by means
of new legislation.
No Partially.
Upon my induction into office | APP
preached this situation with an earnest
desire to cooperate with all political
parties and factions in the consideration
of matters of public business. In this
era of rank partsanship / restrained my
self from retaliation and have so far re-
moved only one man from office prior
to the expiration of his term, and that
for cause. In selecting men for office
| have appointed my political friends,
Republicans and Independent Democrats,
because they were more competent than
the machine politicians who held the
places, and because political bitterness
would, as rule, have caused hod-over
officials to fail to cooperate with my
appointees. In a few notable instances
/ have reappointed men handed down to
me from previous administrations, be-
cause | thought the common good de-
manded it. Pre-emnent among these
was DR.. Lucius p. Brown, the pure food
and drugs man, whose experiences was in
valuable to the state, and whose service
to the people in behalf of clean foods
and pure drugs had given him national
reputation. The records will bear me
out in the statement that no Governor
of the last fifty years has given such
broad and general recognition to all ele-
ments of the people in the conduct of
state affairs. The present administra-
ton has been as nearly non-partisan as it
could have been without the aid of civil
service laws. My platform declares for
such civil service for the numerous en-
ployes in the state prisons as will not
retain incompetent men in office nor dis
charge competent ones, and This | heart.
lily favor.
1t soon became apparent, however, that
such remnants Of the old political ma
chine as were still in office were deter