Sequachee Valley news. (Sequachee [Sequatchie], Tenn.) 1896-1952, 1912-10-17
The Political Situation
in Tennessee.
BY E. c. REEVES

y
the Knoxville Journal and Tribune OF
August 26th. The author of the artl.
Gle is the Hon. E. G. Reeves, OF
johnson City, Tenn. Mr.. Reeves IS
member of the Methodist Episcopal
Church, South He is very prominent,
= and deservedly so, in his church anu
8 has more than once been member OF
the General Conference. He is life
long democrat and is also dlstln-
guished lawyer, favorably known
throughout the state of Tennessee for
his ability and no less for his high
personal character. Editor
The convention met, performed and
adjourned. The expected happened
The covenant with death and league
with hell was made, signed, sealed ana
delivered. Three great plants were
provided for, one for each OF the grand
divisions of the state, to be located re-
spectively in Chattanooga, NASHVILLE
and Memphis, with which to corrupt
the morals, to dethrone reason, oe-
bauch the person, destroy the bodles
and damn the souls of human beings;
Twill be fearful grind-an awtui
toll. From the three centers nameo'
duly legalized, the 0eath dealing eur
rents are to be sent out over the entlre
state to curse and kill. And all IN the
name of democracy That is the cup
pressed to the lips of independents dem
ocrats to quaff. The statement is not
overdrawn Turn on the side lights,
the arc lights and the head lights ana
view the matter from every angle ana
\ the final analysis will verify the 1ofe-
going in its entirety.
Will the independents sacrlhce thelr
+ AID sexy
y verse their former action and join IN
! the support of the standard bearer Of
4 the liquor interests The question Is
up and must be answered one way or
the other. The issue is clear cut
There is no middle ground, There Is
' no room for lodging,
BENTON McMILLIN.
The candidate of the liquor hosts IS
the Hon. Benton MeMillin, twice gov
ernor of Tennessee, and both of his ad-
ministrations were clean and able. He
and | have not only been fellow demo-
Gratis, but personal friends for third
of century He has commanded my
admiration and support, and 1T is no
pleasure to me that cannot in con-
sN science follow him now as he bears
S2 aloft the banner of King Alcohol, mis-
n named democratic" banner l am
Z democrat in warp and woof-an e1-
Confederate democrat if you please
but the banner borne by ex-Gov. Nc
Millin is not my banner. Its symbols
make my flesh creep; its tokens my
soul abhors.
1t is said by some politicians and
even by MIR. McMillin that the liquor
question is moral one and not pol
\ iticai questions and many who cannot
or do not think for themselves parlot-
II like repeat the saying. The first Is
true the second is grosS error.
Mr.. McMillin in his speech at Jotln-
son City while oanvassing for the
nomination said in substance; II
n frankly state that / believe local op-
1, tiop to be the best mode to deal with
the troublesome question, and gaVe
some plausible reasons for the falth
that was in him. Then he added, But
& the state democratic convention WA
make platform and declare the posi-
tion of the party on the question: al
On the blank put into the platform
will stand: if need be, will surrender
NV ini]pement to that Of the party IL
convention assembled - "The policy
of the party, as to that question, viii
he nv policy.' | have not misquotet
the substance of his declarations
THE MORAL PHASE.
| I have been taught to believe that
every rational person must settle
moral question for himself and can
not delegate that responsibility TO an,
other. But the ex-governor essayec
to relegate that duty to political con
vention and let it be his monitor. MT
McMillin is said to be a member ol
the Christian church and believes there
will be a judgement day. Should ht
there be asked why ne advocated y, Une
repeal of tue prohibition laws III Cna1
+apoooa Nashville and Memphis, moi
even with the reserved rlght OF local
o,t;on in which he believed, does be
4h;,k IL would be sufficient answer
~ SOW .sThat was plank in the dem
ocrat;e nlatform, and [ was regular
democratY'' / am discussing the ques
t;on in it's moral phase, for Mr. Nc
Millin saws. and truly, it is a mora
anestion. and yet he refers it to poi
a;t;cal convention for settlement, ualbe
Il he saws it is not political issue
Truly that is a medley of poor theolo
~, and worse politics. The truth i
fSbe distinguished candidate reminds
.as af Rob Taylor's schoolmaster Wht
.aas 90 anxious to get a school tina
wben the school commissioners asked
MN what system he taught whethe
tha earth was round or fiat prompti,,
ranlied II can teach either system.
IL wanted the school. And the ex
royernor mv was SO anxious to chaperon
Sov Hooper from Capitol hill he wa
l m;lling to advocate local option O
h;ah license or prohibition Just as
pnTit;cal convention might determln'
;s moral question for in his johnson 5i
NV = n' speech be unreservedly pledged
h;mself to stand on whatever planl
.nnchinq the liquor question tha'
m,;oht be inserted into the uemocfatl
,iafform, ,hssf The plank has been put IN
Ey1a4ov. Patterson was there ana saw
- M 4 that the plank went in to his lik
;oa ~ II will be easily rememperee
mt .hs two wears ago Patterson, with III
hastara nomination for governor wa
/ b;s bas'@a own platform on the liquor ques
.ion @ but Indignation was SO ri1e q
@rnominiously @ quit the field IN ao
.nes of the battle, and tennessee