The Columbia herald. [volume] (Columbia, Tenn.) 18??-1935, 1913-10-17
A SIGNIFICANT MEETING.

remarkable one. 1t was one or the
greatest occasions in the history OF
columbia. 1t showed the strength
land the determination of the advo-
Gates of good government in Column
bia and Maury county. 1t proves
THAT the people here are desperately
lin earnest about this great question.
lNo special effort had been made to
lget a crowd but it was such an au-
ldience and such an occasion as gives
renewed hope to the advocates or
|popular government. 1t proved that
the people are already aroused; that
They are sleeping on their arms and
that no man should stand between
them and their demand for good gov
eminent.
The arraignment of Mayor Dedman
for his failure to enforce the laws
against the sale of liquor In Column
bia was to be expected; it was the
Inevitable result of conditions here.
No self-respecting law enforcement
mass meeting could be expected to
pass by conditions at home and DEM
and an Improvement at Nashville or
/ Memphis. So long as liquor is open
Nv sold under Federal licenses in
Columbia with but spasdomic and
| lukewarm efforts to stop it the peo-
pie here who believe in the enforce
ment of the laws could not be ex-
pected to sit silently by and make
no protest. In other words, to use
/ the apt phrase of one of the speak
ers, law enforcement, like charity,
should begin at home.
The people who made up yester-
days mass meeting, like The Herald,
have no personal grievances against
the Mayor of Columbia. But the
question of law enforcement is para
mount to all political and personal
considerations; it is beyond partisan
ship or personalities. But the peo-
pie who voiced approval at the ar
raignment Of local conditions feel
Inundated, outraged and incensed at
the apparent lack of sympathy that
the mayor has shown for the liquor
laws of the city Although they had
hoped from his statement of two years
ago that he would make vigorous
warfare upon the liquor traffic they
have been disappointed. Not only
has the opepn sale of liquor been
permitted in Columbia but the Mayor
showed his sentiment upon the ques-
ton by telegraphing to Hilary E.
Howse his hearty congratulations
upon the splendid victory which
the latter had obtained in his recent
contest for mayor Now we submit
that the man who would congratulate
Hilary E. Howse upon his election as
mayor of Nashville is not the man
VII WIlOIl W tADSIl Ia CllOiIC-
ment.
1t was probably expecting too
much of Dedman to hope that he
would be the relentless foe of the
liquor dives. To begin with he has
frankly said that he was not in
sympathy with the prohibition
laws,-laws that are the result of
the prayers of good women and the
bstruggles of good men, all working
to the common end to make this
world cleaner and better place
in which to rear their children and
their children's children. The man
who can find any defense for the
liquor traffic, legalized or outlawed,
is not always the safest man with
whom to entrust power for the en-
forcement of the laws against the
traffic.
The issue will now be put square
lily up to the voters of Columbia
They will have an opportunity on
Oct. % to declare whether or not
they desire the liquor laws enforced
or prefer conditions that have exist
ed for several months. If they are
in earnest, if they really desire the
suppression of the liquor traffic they
will elect for mayor one who sim
cerely stands against the business |
This is question that cannot and |
should not be compromised. Let us
for time at least talk less about |
conditions in Nashville and Memphis |
and set our own house in order.
FARMERS DESERVE 1T.