The Columbia herald. [volume] (Columbia, Tenn.) 18??-1935, 1913-01-31
SHIELDS ELECTION
GREAT SURPRISE TO
LOCAL FUS|ON|STS
HAD COME TO BELIEVE THAT
THEIR FORCES WERE IN
vlNCIBLE.
HOW DID 1T HAPPEN, QUESTION

HUN DlD III nArrLN, QU[0llUN
Regulars Quietly Gloating Over the
Blow Administered to Those Whom
they Love Less Than They Do the
Victor In the Senatorial Contest.
There was not more gloom in Mud
vile on that we'll remembered occa-
sion when the immortal Casey failed
to connect with the third strike than
there was in the ranks of the indie
pendent democrats of Maury county
yesterday and last night when the
news came Of the election of John K.
Shields to the senate by the Pa:ters-
son element of the legislature. The
folks of the classic village made for
ever notable by the failure of Casey
to land on the last chance in that
great event of the diamond probably
extracted some comfort from the con-
temptation of the fact that their hero
might come back"
But in the case of the election Of
Shields and the defeat of Gates, the
choice of the good government forces,
the folks hereabouts realize that the
verdict Of the legislature with all that
it implies lasts for the next six years
They are not so much against Shields
as they are cast down over the man.
ner of his election What's the use.
anyway" said a prominent independ-
ent, "of working and struggling to
elect our men when no sooner do
they warm their seats in Office than
they are picked off by the opposition
and no more do they know us forev-
err"
The people here were amazed, etun.
ned over the senatorial election. It
happened to be that Shields was
elected just two years from the date
of the election of Luke Lea, to the
very day. There was a very marked
difference in the receipt of the news
of the two events in Columbia and
the county. Two years ago the news
made the independents shout and hug
each other with joy, the Office of The
Herald was filled all the afternoon
with a. happy, jubilant crowd On
Yesterday there was no crowd, men
came, received the news and general
ly departed at once without more
than a word or two expressing regret
During the afternoon yesterday,
The Herald Office was probably called
over the telephone by hundreds of
people, both phones being busy near
ly all the time. Almost without ex-
ception, expressions which they utter.
ed showed that the news was very un-
welcome to them.
How did it happen?" was the gen.
eral drift Of the inquiries. Having
successfully organized both branches
of the legislature and having beer so
in the habit of winning victories, the
Independents hereabouts were not
prepared for crushing and singing
defeat for the greatest prize within
the gift of the legislature.
While the regulars" were much
pleased over the defeat of the fusion
forces generally the members of that
faction took the news very quietly.
They are not specially enamored of
Shields. In fact they do not love the
Chief Justice bit, their rejoicing
was due to the defeat of those whom
they love even less than they do
Shields. The result in the senatorial
contest also filled them with the hope
that it was merely the harbinger of
other victories in the elections that
are to come in the legislature.