The Columbia herald. [volume] (Columbia, Tenn.) 18??-1935, 1913-08-01
HARMONY TOO LATE.


ridicule upon all who are engaged II
the farce, the Nashville Democrat
the organ Of the liquor back tax ma
chine, makes a remarkable PROPOSE
ton to the independent democrats
in its issue of Friday morning. In
brief 1t is proposed that the independ
ent democrats desert their fusion-re
publican allies and join with the reg
ular' democrats of the legislature
And In support of its proposition II
asks if there is anything in common
between the republicans and the in
dependent democrats of the legisla-
ture
This statement affords abundant
proof of<the desperate straits OF the
regulars" II shows remarkable
lack of confidence in the infalibility
of the election law. 1t proves that
s the organ is yet afraid that there will
be another honest record Of the ex-
preston of Tennessee voters. And
it realizes that If the next election is
fair one and the votes are honestly
counted, that the liquor-bacE.t tax
apologists will be forever swept from
the face Of the political earth. There
will be no chance whatever for this
aggregation to elect legislature.
But to the remarkable editorial of
the Democrat. rs there anything in
common between the republicans and
Independent democrats? 1t repeats.
The record will show.
Independent democrats and real re-
publicans, without exception, voted
for an honest investigation Of lack
tax graft and thievery and to punish
those who had proven recreant to
their trust and had appropriated to
their own use the funds of the peo-
pie.
They stood together for the main
tenance of an honest and fair cleo
ton system.
They were united in support u an
honest and graftfree appropriation
bill and they stood almost as one man
for the enactment Of wise, progress
sive and honest reform laws.
They resisted all spiteful, vengeful
and retaliatory legislation.
They stood against the insidious ef-
fort of the regulars to perpetuate
the back tax machine under the guise
Of tau commission.
N II the Democrat can show where
upon any vital issue the Independent
democrats aud the regulars have any
thing "iD common" The Herald will
second its effort to amalgamate the
. two forces. But it cannot do so.
Let us 90 back for four years and
see IL there has ever been anything
in common between the two ele-
ments, both calling themselves DEM
ocrats.
In the legislature of 1909 the lnde-
pendent democrats and republicans
stood together for the outlawry OF the
liquor traffic in Tennessee.
They voted solidly for the passage
OF an honest and fair election law.
They were united two years later
In resisting efforts to repeal this law.
They stood together in the great
contest against Patterson Judicial
-ry.
United they forced Patterson to
quit the race for governor. Two
years later by the same combination
they drove him in disgrace from the
contest for the senate.
Together they defeated Dibrell and
rGoodloe and Tom Taylor and placed !
independent democrats in their Of
fees
Contrast this record with the atti-
tude of the regular democrats in the
recent legislative session No quar-
ter whatever was shown the indie
pendent democrats. They have been
denied representation upon every
election board in the state, although
with their republican friends they
constitute big majority OF the vot-
ers Of Tennessee. The regulars open
~ boosted that they would destroy
the independent democrats
While the fusionists have made
mistakes, their contest these four
years in Tennessee has wrought
vast amount of good for the people. II
They have been the hope Of the state. Il
But for their union Patterson would II
have served three terms as COVER t
nor and been succeeded In that office |
by one of his puppets. Pardon brok- Il
erage would still be the chief indus I
try OF the executive department. Pat c
terson would now disgrace the seat Ii
forever made famous by the marty red c