McNairy County independent. (Selmer, McNairy County, Tenn.) 1902-1969, 1913-06-20
THE STATE DEBT
CONFERENCE FAILS.
REGULARS SAY ONLY SOLUTION
BRING BACK ABSENT MEMBERS.
Banker Present Says Only Solution Of
Present Situation Is Through Leg
islature = Regulars for Short
Time Loan Through Notes.

Nashville. Hooper's effort to get
meeting of legislators and bankers at
the mansion to discuss state debt mat
ters proved more or less embarrassing to
the chief executive. OF the 20 invited
only fave attended.
The meeting came to naught, and as a
result the matter of the state debt 10
still in the air. The Democratic posi-
ton is set forth in the following letter:
ITO Hon. Ben w. Hooper, Governor Of
Tennessee.
"Dear Strive have received your let
ter inviting us to attend conference
at the executive mansion to discuss what
further steps shall be taken to preserve
the states financial interests, and stat
ing you may also call in limited num-
Der of financiers and business men for
their counsel. As the letters to us are
identically the same, and as we under
stand ourselves to be invited as mem
bers of the same political clement We
unite in this reply.
eve concur in the view that the ques.
ton of refunding the state debt is not
a party one, but cannot agree that it Is
in no wise connected with the questions
which have caused the present conditions.
"The record of the Democratic mem
bers of the legislature touching this
funding bill is too recent to require q
statement, since it is common knowledge
that they endeavored to so amend it MS
to correct the defects which Gen. Gates
has recently called attention to, and the
resolution enabling the funding board to
borrow money was prepared to be intro
duced by Senator Baxter, not at your re.
quest, but before you had any informa-
tion that such a step was even contem'
plated
eve have from the beginning felt ths
necessity and obligation of preserving the
states credit, and to the end that any
legislation needed, as well as other i'm.
portant legislation, might be enacted, the
Democratic members of the legislature
have kept that body in session, but ow.
ing to the refusal of certain members 20
attend, have been obliged to adjourn
from day to day, without. doing business
of any kind. We beg to suggest that
your influence with these absent men,
bers is such that if you were to appeal TO
them and request them to attend, they
would do so, as they would have to Do
any way should your proposed confer
ence adopt policy, before any remedial
legislation could be had.
"The present situation is directly the
result of the questions which you refer
to as the cause of political strife, and
it is a situation that can be relieved If
the absent members of the legislature,
who are persons in political sympathy
with the administration, will only at
tend to-as they must do eventually if
any legislation of any kind is had. We
will gladly join in all proper legislation
which the situation demands.
"For these reasons conference OF
few to determine what the legislature
itself shall do and conference which
would sidastep certain vital issues will
fail, in our opinion, to reach solid re-
suits.
at may be that the experienced finan-
ciers you will have at the conference
may be allie to show satisfactory way,
hut, as we see the matter, the only way
is for the legislature to act; for those
members who refuse to attend to be in
duced to attend, and for that body 10
pass resolution empowering the fund.
ing board to make temporary loans.
"Our advice, if we were present at
the conference, would be simply that
you, as governor, in view Of the situa-
ton, request those members of the leg
islature who agree with you politically,
to attend it's daily sessions, and as that
is about all that we deem necessary to
be said, we beg to be permitted to state
it in the form of a letter to you.
"In conclusion, we beg to assure You
that we appreciate the gravity Of the
situation and the Importance Of legisla-
ton, and that the members of our party
in the legislature will be at hand AMI
support all necessary and appropriate
legislation necessary to avert the GALLANT
ity which threatens.
eve beg also to add that the other
members of our party to whom an in
vitation was extended are not in the
city, and, while we feel that we know
their views, we can speak only for our
selves. With great respect we are very
truly,
IN. BAXTER, JR.
GEORGE N. WEIGH.
III. T.. STEWART.
aW. N. STANTON"