Sequachee Valley news. (Sequachee [Sequatchie], Tenn.) 1896-1952, 1913-12-25

psaaeuts and Republicans. Thb alliance
resulted IA putting Patterson and Dlbrell
completely out OF the running. IL also
controlled the organization OF both sen
ate and House, giving the Speakership OF
che Senate 70 White. an independent and
ne Speakership of the House 10 Stanton
Crumpite.
This matter was arranged BY senator
Lea, Mai Stahlman, Mayor Crump. Col
James T. Amis and a few others, and
was backed by Governor Hooper and
the Independent and Republican members
Of the Legislature.
Much has been said about this alliance.
both by way OF misunderstanding and
Misrepresentation. The criticism llAs not
been based on the agreement actually
made for II is conceded to have been
sensible and honorable, but II has always
been based on something that never nap
pened II has been charged that Governor
Hooper agreed to drop all law enforce
ment legislation. but not syllablc Of
proof was ever offered to substantiate this
statement. On the other hand the writ
ten memorandum prepared by Governor
Hooper and sent to Senator Lea, Mayor
Crump and others at their November
meeting expressly declared that law en-
forcement must not be included IN the
agreement. The Fusion members OF the
Legislature were informed that there was
no agreement as to the temperance ana
law enforcement legislation, and there
was no real effort made to bring about
lature had been organised and the Sena-
torial election was deadlOcked Then
while the Senatorial election was hanging
in the balance and the interest OF all par
ties was intense, the shrewd ana WHY
Crump concluded that the time was ripe
to force the Independents and Repubh-
cans to yield ON the law enforcement
question. He put the screws ON all the
Independent leaders in the Senatorial
fight
Some Of them may have yielded on ac-
count of their great anxiety to win the
Senatorial contest, but most of them gave
in because they were made to believe that
no law enforcement legislation could pos
sibly pass and that, unless they agreed
with Crump, the four mile law would be
so amended as to exclude the cities Sen
ator Lea expressed his view of the mat
ter and even some of the leaders OF the
Anti-Saloon League signifed their Will
tngnesS to accept CrumpS terms.
Delega lions OF Independent and Repub-
lican leaders waited on Governor, Hooper |
to secure his acquiesence in tlas deal,
but he told all of them in most positive
terms that he would not violate his plat
form and campaign pledges to the people, |
and would resign his office before he |
would yield his position ON the law en- |
forcement legislation. |
HOOPER coRNERED.
The true inside reason why Crump then |
Went ahead with Senator Lea and others |
else believed that. with Gov |
ernor Hooper hemmed in a corner to |
himself, the other leaders of the indie |
pendents could swing enough independ- |
emit Legislators to beat all the law en- |
forcement bills. This was what Crump re-
lied on. The mistake made was in I'M
the loyalty and strength of |
character OF the Independent Democratic
members of the Legislature When 1t
came to a final show-dow not a single
Legislator could be induced
to forsake Governor Hooper and vote
against the law enforcement bills
Everybody remembers how, when the |
light was opened up on the law enforce
nent bills, Crump jumped the fence into
The camp Of the Regulars and became the |
practical dictator at the Regular caucus
Turing the remainder of the Legislature. i
John Isaac Cox has claimed the credit
IF lassoing Crump and returning him to
he Regular fold, but this boast of John
saac's Is an empty sham. As matter
If fact, when Governor Hooper COM
nenced to line up his friends in the two
Judiciary Committees and they began to
export the bills for passage, Crump start
ID in a dead run for the only genuine
liquor reservation, the Regular caucus He
'eeded no persuasive rnaneuvers from
OK 1t Isl true, Cox did put up a show
# favoring the law enforcement bills to
righten Crump but Crump had already |
'roken with the Republicans and indie
Moreover, he had sense enough
ng and that he would never vote for q
aW enforcement bill until it had enough
otes to pass without his vote. Crump |
vas not afraid Of John Isaac, but he was
fraid OF a small number of Regulars
hat 1t was always thought would vote for
he bills He had not been worrying about !
hem, however, because he felt sure that
nough Independents could be delivered
D save the previous saloons of Memphis.
tut the first preliminary skirmishes
bowed that none of the Independents
ould be transferred to the liquor camp bJ
ny combination of leaders.
The fight now waxed warm and nearly |
Il the Independent leaders and the Anti
aloon League officials resumed their
laces by Governor Hooper's side. They
)oll the position that they knew Governor
topper had not made any agreement and
nat C.'ump had broken faith with them.
An effort was made TO get the law en-
)rcement bills to IL vote before the
legislative recess, but talk" filibustor
yainst the bills led by Representative A.
b. Todd prevented them from reaching a
otc. 1t will be recalled that the same
Ir Todd was one OF the six Regulars
tho finally helped to put the bills over
During the recess plans were laid by