The Newport plain talk. (Newport, Tenn.) 1909-1939, 1913-06-26
FORCE FUSIONISTS
TO KEEP SEATS

TeguiatS Wouiu put over great mass
of political legislation, including more
than one hundred bills etoed by Cow
ernor Hooper for lack of quorum and
then pending in the senate. They
were willing to make this sacrifice in
order that the states credit might be
saved.
For three days they have conducted
"a political fight thot for gameness,
loyalty to principal, and intelligent
concerted action has never been sur
passed in the state. AS a result they
went home for the Sunday recess with
a record not only of defensive achiev-
ment, but of actual loss by the regu-
lars.
The chief feature of the session was
the monumental blunder of The house
regulars in their attempt TO correct The
defects of the previous passage of the
election bill. With Nashville gunner
on the doors they put overa resolution
stating that they they thereby passed
the election bill over the governors
veto. The record of is former passage
was left untouched.
The bill itself was not in their pos
session. The record in The lawsuit
was already in the supreme court.
What the regulars did was merely con-
Tess the weakness of their previous
position, which did not, at.the same
time, add to it any strength.
Not only did the regulars weaken
their own position on the election bill
but they did the same on other matters.
In their anxiety to put over the gener.
al appropria tion bill over the govern
or's veto and therebytie it up with the
election bill, before the courts, tn, y de-
clined the proposition of the fusionists,
made through Senotor Underwood, by
which an opportunity was offered to
pass legal appropriation Monday,
and not only did that but declined to
hear the report of committee of the
senate which had investigated, at first
hand, the probable revenues and ex-
penses of the state and which declared
that the bill was loaded at least S2, ,000,-
600. In spite of these things they in
sisted in putting over their Illegal bill
and forced it to a vote upon which
they failed to secure the necessary con-
stitutional majority of seventeen.
The regulars arein aquandary about
what to do. There is much favorable
comment on the patriotic attitude of
the fusionists in their willingness to
sacrifice political ends for the states
credit. At the same time there is
criticism of the regulars for the man.
ner in which they met the state debt
matter and delayed action on it for
forty-eiyht hours in their effort to jam
through political measures ahead of
it.
This criticism is intensified by their
latest political play on the appropria-
tion bill. Just what they propose to
do now with The states business con-
cerning which they have so long and
loudly prated remains to be seen.
From all appearances they have sue
ceeded in jamming it up pretty badly
at this session of legislature.
Two other results of the little session
have been that Governor Hooper Sc
cured the final passage of the parole
bill and the Underwood bill to require
the collection of interest on state de-
posits. These measures were defeated
| by the regulars two years ago, but
were passed UNANIMOUSLY at this ses
sion.
With such a record of successful
fighting against odds and the securing
of such advantages, while at the same
time doing their utmost to save the
credit of the state, the fusion caucus
could well afford to be in happy
frame of mind. Several speeches were
made by republicans and independent
democrats, feliciting each other in the
steadfastness with whitehall members
had stood together for the advancement
of the principles for which they were
elected. Governor Hooper, who was
likewise complimented by the men,
bers of the legislature for the qualrty of
his leadership in the fight and the
warmes. personal regard for the gov
ernor was expressed. He made a
short speech, congratulating the men,
bers on the fight they had made and
the loyalty they had shown to their
constituencies.
SIXTH SON BORN
TO SPANISH QUEEN