The Columbia herald. [volume] (Columbia, Tenn.) 18??-1935, 1913-08-29

mated by the same people who wo
: the judicial fight in 1910, who elect
ed Hooper in the same year and who
in the main, were supporting Hool
/. er again. According to Judg
Shields own statement he contri
buted $3.50 to the election of fusiol
candidates Tor the Legislature. Thi
fund was contributed to and expend
ed by Col Jonas T. Amis, an arden
|, supporter of Judge Shields ant
, Hooper in 1910, and a rantankerous
advocate of Hooper in 1912. In fact
Col. Amis was elected chairman by {
committee that was brought into be
ing at convention that unanimously
enthusiastically and whole heartedly
endorsed Ben w. Hooper for COVER
nor. Col Amis was known all over
the state as supporter of Hooper
His headquarters were located in the
same building with that of the re-
publican headquarters and he was
in daily conference with Col. Taylor
and Chairman Beasley, of the repub-
lican committees. These facts are
cited merely to show that Judge
Shields was not adverse to fusion in
the campaign which ended on Nov. s
last.
After the camjaign ended and the
legislature convened Judge Shields
announced his candidacy for the
senate. He declared that he was a
candidate in the constitutional way,
before all the members of the legis-
lature and appealed for support of
the members regardless of party or
factional alignment Up to this
time Judge Shields was the most
popular man in Tennessee with the
independent democrats. His course
had been consistent But the men,
bers of that faction, almost unani-
mously opposed his candidacy for the
senate Not because of any opposi-
ton to Judge Shields as a man or a
democrat. There was not an indie
pendent democrat in Tennessee who
did not admire Judge Shields as
man or a democrat There was
not an independent democrat in Ten
nessee who did not regard Judge |
Shields as eminently fitted for the |
senate. But they desired him to con-
tinue upon the bench. He was re-
garded as the ablest and strongest |
man upon the supreme court. His
record upon that bench was the
pride of the good government forces
Of the state. He had done more to
change the course and practice of
the court with reference to techni-
ealities than any jurist in the his
tory of the state. Judge Shields al
ways sought justice and he had no
patience with the dry and musty
'ules Of law if they prevented that
End. Where the record showed that
he defendant had received a fair
iral and had been proven guilty, the
entence was affirmed regardless of
my violations of technical rules in
he trial below. Judge Shields had
TODD like stone law upon the great
noral questions that went to the
curt of final resort. He had been
lected upon pledge of non-parti-
an and non-political judiciary for
light years and those who had sup U
orted him felt that he owed it to 3
le cause to remain upon the bench.
hey felt that contrary course would II
3 inconsistent and would do injury u
} the cause of good government in II
CT
For these reasons and these alone 4,
e Independent democrats opposed :
ldge Shields candidacy for the SEN !,
g. Under what they considered :,
sht conditions they would have ov
pported him with almost perfect o
lanimnity. Judge Shields, how 10,
er, had the right to make the race
r the senate and his announcement
at he would be candidate in the
Institutional way placed his can
lacy upon high plane. However, re
thin four days after the balloting ie.
gan he became the regular" Id
caucus nominee, the sue rel
'sor of Patterson who had been io'
by the regulars in the lid
vember primary. From that mo- ies
mt he was factional candidate ins
the senate. However, even with 70
$ support, Shields could not have ~
N elected had he not received the ooi
es of three Independent demo les
is and nine republicans. Al era
ugh regular" nominee he was pa
in debtor to fusion" 'he