The Columbia herald. [volume] (Columbia, Tenn.) 18??-1935, 1913-08-22
CAUSE OF FUSION.

So long as the so-caiieu fesuiai
democratic organs base their peas
for democratic harmony" upon the
idea that the fusionists, the inde-
pendent democrats of Tennessee. are
enlisted in the contest purely for the
,loaves and fishes OF Office there will
never be any Reimbursement OF party
affairs. The repeated invitations OF
the organs to assemble around the
marty Preside are all seemingly pre-
dicated upon the idea that the indie
pendent democrats can be moved by
threats of ostracism from the favors
Of the Federal administration If they
continue their present allignments.
This is wholly false and gratui-
tious assumption. 1t has no basis
whatever in fact. The independent
den. ocrats did not leave the regular
ORGANIZATION because Of any quarrel
over place. The overwhelming mai
ority Of the independent democrats
. of Tennessee do not care rap who
holds the Offices SO long as the pub
\ lie affairs are honestly. efficiently
and fairly administered for the whole
people and not for the benefit of a
special interest. They are not office
hunters.
Fusion was borne of a devotion to
principle. 1t will survive until the
Issues that caused it are settled and
settle right. No amount Of threats
nor covert attempts to bride can
change the convictions Of the indie
pendent democrats of Tennessee.
They ask no special favors sof gov
eminent, but they do insist upCn a
square deal and an honest admins
tration OF state affairs. They will
not be satisfied with anything less.
Even II the so-called fusion lead
-ers should agree to a harmony pro-
position that did not make right
settlement OF the issues that have
divided the party, the rank and file
would not follow them. That has
been conclusively demonstrated.
The differences in the democratic
party of this state can be adjusted.
The party can be harmonised It
can be restored to the once proud
. eminence that it held in the ccnfi-
dence and esteem Of the good people
]. of the state. But 1t cannot be done
+ by sordid trafic in office and vii
gar dicker ir place. 1t cannot be
! obtained at the price of a surrender
: Of honest conviction upon issues Of
vita, Importance to the welfare Of
the people. The sooner the social
ed regulars understand this fact the
better.
II the regulars will agree to the
honest enforcement of the laws Of
the state; to fair and just admin
,istrat:on of the tax laws; to the pun
fshment Of the back tax grafters and
to the ostracism of certain so-called
regular democratic leaders who are
really the tools OF special interests,
an adjustment Of party differences
can be reached.
The demands of the Independent
democrats are not unreasonable
They ask nothing that a
sense Of duty to state and Of
loyalty to principle does not dictate
They are willing to make no demand
that every good citizen regardless of
party or faction cannot subscribe to,
but they are not going to surrender
their convictions upon these vital
issues if the democratic party is
never restored to power in Tonnes
see.
The independents are real sincere
democrats, but they are patriots be-
fore they are partisans; they love
their state better than any so-called
political organization. This IS a
plain statement of the unvarpished
fruth