McNairy County independent. (Selmer, McNairy County, Tenn.) 1902-1969, 1913-11-28

chinery. Both these bills were vetoed by
Patterson and passed over his veto.
Then followed the alleged effort of Pat
terson to coerce the Supreme Court in this
case. the free use OF the pardon power by
Governor Patterson. the revolt of the peo-
Pile, the launching Of the Independent
Democratic ticket for the Supreme Court
and Court of Appeals, and the over
whelming defeat OF the Patterson judi
ciary ticket by the Independent and Re-
publican vote.
HOOPER NOMINATED.
Next came the nomination of Ben W.
Hooper for Governor by both Republicans
and Independents the withdrawal of Gov.
Patterson in the face OF certain defeat,
the substitution Of Senator Robert L. Tay-
lor and the first election of Governor
Hooper.
After the enactment Of the state wide
prohibition law in 1909 1t was ignored in
the cities Of the state, the city officials
publicly announced that they would not
enforce 1t, and Governor Patterson aided
this scheme Of notification by pardoning
hundreds of bootleggers all over the state.
The people still hoped for the ultimate
enforcement Of the laws and Governor
Hooper and majority of the Lower
House OF the Legislature OF 1911 were
elected upon pledges for the maintenance
OF the election and prohibition laws, but
the majority Of the Senate was the other
way. When the Legislature of 1911 met
the liquor interests waged strong fight
for the repeal Of the election law. The
control OF the Lower House was wrested
from the Republicans and Independents
by the treacherous desertion OF five men
from their ranks, and the election law
designed to restore the control of the sa-
looms at the ballot box was passed 1t
failed, however, to get by Gov. Hooper's
veto.
During Gov. Hooper's first administra-
ton the promiscuous pardoning of guilty
bootleggers in the rural counties was dis
continued and the liquor laws were there
by more rigidly enforced. Conditions In
the Cities however. did not improve. Lo-
cal officials continued to nullify the laws
and crime Of all sorts greatly Increased
RENoMINATED.
Governor Hooper was renominated by
the Republicans and Independent Demo.
Gratis In platforms strongly demanding the
retention of the election law OF 1909 and
additional legislation for the enforcement
Of the four-mile law.
Gov. McMillin, his opponent, ran on a
platform advocating tine repeal OF the
four-mile law as to cities, but making no
mention of the election laws.
The reelection of Governor Hooper
amid the complications OF the Presiden-
tial election with the Republicans d.
yided and Roosevelt in the state speaking
against him, was one Of the marvels Of
politics.
But when a count of noses was had
Il was found that the Republicans and
independents lacked a little of controll-
ing either branch OF the Legislature
In the Senate where seventeen Is a
majority, they had only fifteen. In the
House, where fifty is n majority, they
had only forty seven, and OF these.
three men elected as Republicans, Roys-
ton. Love and Boyer. went over to tho
regular Democrats before the Legislature
even met.
The shelby County delegation. three
In the Senate and eight in the House.
NIL controlled by Mayor Crump, were
free lanees. ready to make with any
body any alliance that seemed advan-
tageous to themselves. Their most nat
ural alliance, however, at that time, was
with the Republicans and Independents,
for the reason that Crump was the bit
ter enemy OF Patterson and Dibrel, and
that Patterson had been nominated by
the regular Democratic primary for
United States Senator and Dibrell for
Comptroller.
BALANCE OF POWER.
Crumpp plainly held the balance of
mower in both Houses but he could not
afford to combine with the element al
: ready committed to Patterson and Dibrell.
He. therefore. east his lot with the indie