The Columbia herald. [volume] (Columbia, Tenn.) 18??-1935, 1913-05-02
"THE cRuMP COMPACT,

Banner att amptS to Shift the fespon'
sibility for the failure OF fusion In
the present legislature from Ben w
Hooper to the shoulders of Senator
Lea, Col. Amis and others. Evident
ly the Banner is going to save Hoop
er, the author of our troubles, even
if to do 50 it must destroy every 9TH
er friend of the cause. In its slaVish
devotion TO the ambitions OF the gov
ernor 1t is willing to make moss any
statement however at variance with
the facts, or do any injustice to any
one, that the exigencies of the case
may demand or seemingly require.
In the light of all the events that
have TRANSFERRED since the November
election of last year, the Banners in
innate ana personal first hand knowl-
edge of those events, the editorial in
Saturdays issue, which makes a tor.
tuous effort to save Hooper even at
the expense of Lea, Amis and others,
is not only an outrageous assault
upon the truth, but it is a most un-
justifiable and indefensible attack
upon Lea, Amis and other leaders,
more patriotic and more consistent
in they devotion to the cause of good
government in Tennessee than ever
the Banner dared to be.
Comparatively speaking the Ban
ner is recent convert to the cause
of good government in this state
When the first great campaign to
overthrow Patterson and the liquor
interests was launched in this state
more than five years ago by the
Knightly Carmack, the Banner was
as silent az a grave ana as dumb as
an oyster Not once during that en-
tire campaign did the Banner lift its
voice for good government. It had
but little to say in condemnation of
the assassination of Senator Car
mack, and it gave scant encourage
ment to reformers who dominated
the legislature that followed. IN fact
the Banner did not join the process
sion until the judiciary campaign
commenced three years ago. Like
all new converts it displays excessive
zeal and would monopolze all the
virtues of the reform forces for itself
and it's hero, Gov. Ben w. Hooper, in
whom it Processes to see no guile.
In Saturdays issue the Banner
makes a new and altogether novel
defense of Hooper's breach of
faith" Heretofore that paper has in
sisted that the breach" came from
Crump. 1t now practically confesses
The Herald's charge that it was
Hooper who put the "crlmp' in the
agreement and played havoc with fu-
sion control of the legislature. And
the governor took this remarkable
course, according to his organ, be-
cause it panied his generous soul to
have his friends, Lea, Amis and 9TH
ers, "duped" by Crump. He Just
could not hear the thought of such a
thing, although in being "duped"
Senator Lea, Col. Amis and Others"
were safeguarding everything for
which the good government forces in
Tennessee had fought for six years
three years before the Banner joined
them
1t is absolutely untrue that Crump
''beguiled Lea. Amis and others and
sent them forth to lead Hooper into
the snare" There was no snare set
for Hooper or any one else. Had the
agreement made between Crump,
Lea, Amis and Others" land by the
way it is our information that the
owner of the Banner was one Of the
Others" and we believe he confess
ed as much ''in moment of weak
messy the temperance cause would
have been infinitely better off than it
is now and it would be unnecessary
for the Banner to devote so many col
umns to a justification of the "filli-
buster" for then none would have
been necessary.
Here are the facts: The people of
Tennessee at the November election
refused to elect a legislature pledg-
ed to the enforcement of the laws.
Both houses were controlled by the
enemies of temperance honest cleo
tions and good government. But by
reason of an alliance between Crump,
Lea. Amis and others minority was
changed to majority. In this agree
ment not single principle or
achievement for which the good gov
eminent forces had fought for six
years was sacrificed. In the light of
the fact that the people, who are ON
nipctent or should be in this state,
had refused to elect law enforce