The Columbia herald. [volume] (Columbia, Tenn.) 18??-1935, 1912-11-15
m TENNESSEE.

IN TENNESSEE.
Tennessee is eurfeited with rol
tics. We have had for the past l.al
dozen years or more. since Patterson
made his advent into the arena Q
state politics, entirely too much Q
political agitation and turmoil. tn
material advancement and develop
mcnt Of the state has been retarded
We need above all things a period 9
wholesome respect for the law and o
genuine quiet in the political AFFAIR."
of Tennessee.
Tennessee needs many laws for thu
development of its vast resources; !
needs statutes to conserve its min
eeral and agricultural wealth. i
needs better banking laws. Its cor
poration laws are wholly inadequate
for the protection Of the public Oul
system Of taxation 10 expensive, op
pressive and inadequate and ante
Quated. Our organic law needs re
vision. No state in the union ID more
In need Of a genuine progressive leg
islature than Tennessee.
Now we cannot have all these very
desirable things so long as the poll
<ics OF the state are torn and rent
with the conflicting ambitions Of ma.
chine politicians. We need more men
IN Office to whom public Office ID q
public trust and not means I'd build
MP personal machine for self or
fractional agrandisement. There
should be a genuine coming together
OF the best men OF all factions with
the one purpose to serve the state;
to place Tennessee in line with the
genuinely progressive democratic
commonwealth of the nation. There
should be more real service for the
public and less machine manipula-
ton In the legislative halls.
Tennessee is a democratic state.
The democratic party triumphant
and militant in the nation, did not
win In Tennessee because 1t was not
genuinely democratic. A real Wood
row Wilson progressive democrat, on
Z platform really responsive to the
needs Of the people and not subser-
Went to a corrupt and dying machine,
would have swept this state for gov
ernof by an immense majority. We
must face the facts. Hooper was not
eleceed governor because Tennessee
is a republican state. The vote for
president proves conclusively the
contrary.
There should be real and genuine
rehabilitation of the democratic par
ty In Tennessee. 1t should be re-
stored to that place in the confidence
and affections of the people which it
enjoyed for three decades following
the constitutional convention Of 1870.
This is not hopeless task. re the
real patriots of both factions are
moved by a sincere desire to accom-
plish the reformation Of the party
and are not controlled by a scramble
for Office and moved by desire to
build UP machine we can speedily
reach an understanding that will
prove Of great advantage to the dem
ocratic party and real blessing to
the people Of the state
Small bore and selfish politicians
cannot work the reform of the DEM
0cratic narty that Is to return it to
power and place In Tennessee There
must be subordination Of selfish
ambitions It is going to be q very
difiicult job. but we have confidence
that 1t can be accomplished.
The Herald desires peace in Ten
nessee. 1t would be glad to see the
democratic party once again restor-
cd to the place that it held before 1t
was wrecked by the Patterson ma
chine, the liquor interests and the
back tax plunderbund. When the
democratic party is once more re-
sponsive to the real needs of the reo-
pie. nominates men for office who de-
serve to win, 1t will come into power.
And its success, rightly achieved, will
mean infinite good for the State Of
Tennessee Now is the time for TAX
Ing stock, for frankly meeting the is
sues. There should be an END OF
elimination and recrimination. Abuse
and vituperation are profitless as was
abundantly shown in the recent con-
test.
The Herald is convinced that there
can be real harmony in the democra-
cy Of this state without the sacrifice
of any principle upon the part Of eth.
er faction II selfish place seekers and
machine builders are sent to the rear
and the ENJOYS OF the conflicting fac