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


report was signed by Juuge John A:
Haynes, o. h. Holiday, John II. Early,
w. G. NJ. Thomas, George n. Tillman,
T. A Wright, J. r. Penland, james II.
Welcker, Judge Z. L. Bullock, Judge
John Z. Mccall and G. t. Fitzhugh,
strong lawyers and jurists, and the
trienas of good government.
The reason why our laws contain no
provisions for the handling of such a
situation as exists in our cities is that
the lawmakers of the state never
dreamed that such condition would
ever exist. In the enactment of a Grim
inal statute it has always been anticl-
pated that the statute would occasionally
be violated, and assumed that the con-
stituted authorities would perform their
duty in the arraignment and conviction
of the offender. 1t was never antici-
pated that the lawlesss would get con-
troll of the electorate of county, and
elect a set of local officials who would
enter office to nullify and not to en-
force the law. Having reached such a
condition, it is now the duty of every
good citizen to make a determined fight
to remedy it.
The Remedy.
Can it be remedied, Yes. The situa-
ton is less discouraging here than it
has been in other states For more than
thirty years the liquor laws were multi
fled in several towns and cities in Kan
sas, but now they are enforced.
Our law in Tennessee is only four
years old, and its notification is con-
fined to four cities. If the state sur
renders to these four cities, the opening
wedge has been driven that will speedily
put the saloon back in all the larger
towns of the state.
If the people of the state will fully
grasp the gravity of the situation, as /
believe they do, and will form line of
battle behind every law enforcement eau
didate from one end of the state to the
other, we will win victory at the polls
that will vest us with power to make Il
finish of the business in the cities. We
will vindicate the supremacy of the law,
and break the backbone of this crimin1l
conspiracy against the state. We will
teach the thugs, crooks and grafters that
Tennessee is greater than any munich
pality.
How can these results be accom-
plished?
By a series of laws, only few of
which need be mentioned.
In the first place, municipal cor
poration is the creature of the state.
The creature is not greater than the
creator. Let the laws be so amended as
to enable the state to intervene and
prevent the notification of the state
laws by municipalities. The power to
intervene in local matters is not wanted,
but a state law is not local matter.
There can be no question as to the legal
right of the state to amend these mu-
nicipal charters in any way it may see
fit. Nor can there be any question as to
the moral right and the practical neces.
sity of the state taking such action
when the city authorities set themselves
up in open rebellion against the laws of
the state. Under our constitution it
would not be possible to confer upon the
Governor or any executive authority the
power to remove derelict sheriffs. This
can only be done by the courts, but the
present laws can be so amended as to
expedite actions against law-breaking
sheriffs.
Suspension of Mayor.
The legislature can, however, provide
for the removal or suspension of the
mayor of city. If such power were
conferred upon me by statutory enact
ment, | would not use it arbitrarily, nor
is it likely any Governor would. But
where the mayor of a city issued proc
lamation setting aside the operation of
a state law in his city, or otherwise put
his municipality in rebellion against the
state, would suspend him in less time
than it takes to talk about it, let him
be Republican, Democrat-or what not.
Governor Harmon, of Ohio, who was the
choice of the regulars" of their state
for President, possesses the power to
remove mayor, and has used it for the
public good
Not being able to use the militia to
suppress the prevailing lawlessness in the
cities, the legal commission already re-
ferred to recommended a law pladAg at
the disposal of the Governor the kptire
civil forces of the state-the she1 and
their posses-for the purpose of orc
ng any law that is flagrantly ed.
frequent arrests and confiscat tx
lures and stock would soon bs IRE
some to the lawless saloon.
A law providing for the interchange of
Judges would be wholesome. This has
been the system in North Carolina for
many years, and insures trials free from
ocal influences. would like to see
Judge Erwin Davis hold criminal court in
Davidson county JUST once.
New .Iudgeship.
-. = : ' 54;4 s'': q
in on the bench who
he town in eighteen
be fewer saloons
Iced for campaign
me to elect
ssisJant counsel
ot for general
Sale of beverages
one-half per cent
the four-mile law
grcement of the law
ALLY in the country
has been effectively
law authorizing