The Columbia herald. [volume] (Columbia, Tenn.) 18??-1935, 1913-02-14
MAYOR cRuMP.

MHySn SnOWFs
There is a disposition manifest il
the legislature. especially among the
regulars" to hamper, embarass ant
delay Mayor Crump In his efforts te
obtain reform and progressive
legislation for the city OF Memphis
The regulars" are actuated by the
basest of motives, a desire for re
venge. They are unwilling to con
slider these measures upon their mer.
It's, as their oath of fidelity to the
constitution requires, but are moved
alone by desire to punish Mayor
Crump because he would not align
himself with the liquor interest and
the back tax plunderbund.
The independents certainly have
no cause for complaint against May
or Crump. However, many of them
seem to resent the fact that Mr..
Crump has been their friend and ally,
and lest they be charged with snbser-
yiency to him. are prone to make
common cause with the regulars" in
order to show their independence"
Certainly not a much higher motive
than that which actuates their enc
mics.
If the Independents" will but
look the facts squarely in the face
and reflect they cannot escape the
conclusion that there is no reason
whatever why they should not aid
Mr.. Crump In his laudable efforts to
obtain better legislation for Mem,
phis, and, on the contrary, they raust
see many reasons why his claim upon
their good will is strong and veil
night indisputable,
But for the aid that Mr.. crump has
given the independents and repubh-
cans in this legislature they would
have been swept entirely of the pc.
litical boards. Both houses would
have been organised against them.
The election and temperance laws
would have been repealed. Liquor
representatives would have coniroll.
ed absolutely the election machinery
of the state; every wise and whole
some measure recommended BY Cow
Hooper would have been defeated;
every state oaicer would have been
the sutservient tool Of the liquor
power and the back tax plunderbund
would have been reinforced and 70
vitalised to continue Ito career Of d.
xtruction to the highest and beht In
terests OF the state. The senators
sent from Tennessee to the congress
Of the United States would be parti-
sans Of the old discredfted Patterson
machine and tor that matter Patter-
son might be one of them, but for
the substantial aid given the good
government cause by Mayor Crump.
The above facts are not overstated.
There we're elected to the house of
representatives last November twen-
ty independent democrats and rwen.
ty.seven republicans and fifty.two
regulars. The latter would have alb
solute!y controlled had every republi-
can member stood true to the indie
pendent cause. which they did not.
In the senate there were elected nine
independent democrats and six re-
publicans out of a membership OF
thirty-three. giving the regulars a
majority Of three. In other words,
without the aid Of Mr.. Crump and the
Shelby county delegation, the fusion
lists would have been In a hopeless
minority in both houses and Pntter-
son would probably have been elect
ed to the senate. and It 10 by no means
certain that Dibrell and the back tar
machine would have been destroyed.
These are facts that cannot be de-
MED Whatever power OF defense
the fusionists have In the present leg
islature against the repeal of whole
some and reform legislation Is due
to the aid that they have received
from Mayor Crump. The latter IL
not in accord with the fusionists upon
the liquor question. He does not be-
lieve In prohibition. but he IL broad
enough and patriotic enough to recog.
nize that the liquor question IL not
the sole and only issue in Tonnes
see; that II should not be allowed to
defeat much needed progressive leg
islation. He Is IN agreement with
the independents upon the necessity
for reform Of the back tax laws: upon
the necessity for reform legislation
along many lines having for their
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