Sequachee Valley news. (Sequachee [Sequatchie], Tenn.) 1896-1952, 1913-03-13

III could sink one thought deep into
the minds OF the great masses of Ten
nessee people. 1t would be the truth
that there can be no peace between the
whisky interests and the law, until the
law has completely triumphed.
The whisky traffic is essentially law
less. If you regulate 1T, it violates the
regulations. If you segregate 1t, it
sneaks across the forbidden line. 1t
sells to minors and drunkards in viola
tion of the law, and opens the back
hoor when the front is ordered closed
When we had the legalized saloon, 1t
was the center of all lawlessness. 1t
was the curse of the rich and the poor.
the high and the low. 1t debased man
hood, defled womanhood, and filled the
State with widows. orphans and out
casts. Twenty years ago, when l was
q member of the Legislature, the sa-
loon lobby and certain allied interests
absolutely controlled the General As
Sembly. And yet, the saloon was then
regulated"
The saloon must go. The conscience
of the State and Nation has revolted
against it. The blood of it's victims
cries out from the ground and the
prayers of the millions of good women
have arisen to God for its destruction.
Can the open saloon be banished
from Tennessee? Is this, practicable?
Can it be accomplished by reasonable
and constitutional methods?
answer these questions, without
hesitation, in the affirmative.
Bills are now pending before the
General Assembly which, If enacted
Into laws. will destroy the outlawed
saloon. They are not drastic novel or
unreasohable They are moderate, con-
servative and constitutional. The
friends of the liquor interests say
that these bills are all intended to con-
Ter additional power upon the Cover
nor This statement is knowingly
false. The majority OF these bills con-
fer no power whatever upon the Gov
srnor, and those which do, confer only
such power as already belongs to the
Governors OF other States.
No law is pending which empowers
the Governor to remove Judges, at
sorneys- general and sheriffs, and state
nents to this effect are intended by the
advocates of a weak cause as an i'm
position upon ignorance.
The only one of these bills which au-
lhorizes the Governor to remove Off
.ials limits this power to the removal
pf city officials, and that only for the
nullification of State laws. This is the
law in Ohio and other States. 1t is
law which Woodrow Wilson said
snly ten days ago that he wanted en-
acted in New Jersey. 1t is Just and
reasonable law. No city official should
se permitted to override the sovereign
laws of Tennessee. This power to re-
move the city officials has never been
abused in the States where It exists.
Governor Harmon has not abused 1t in
ohio, but he has used It,
The great country communities OF
Tennessee have chartered the cities
and given them a municipal govern
ment but they have never licensed
heir unfaithful officials to trample un-
der foot the sacred laws of the Com
aonwealth.
The conditions which now exist in
the four cities of this State are a
ttench In the nostrils of decency. We
seople should not trifie with this situ-
,tion any longer, but should demand
that the saloons be closed in the cities
IS they have been in the country and
n the smaller towns.
1t has been said by my political on
pmies that / do not really want these
avs passed, because the resulting ban
of the saloon would destroy
The issue upon which l was elected.
!. nd would defeat the next candidate
II those who have heretofore been my
friends.
To this let me reply in all sincerity,
that If the enforcement of the law
against the open saloon results in re-
aniting the Democratic Party aud de-
eating my own. I am reconciled to the
'esult.
1t has also been threatened that II
md my friends press tho enactment
n law enforcement legislation. certain
,olitical offices shall be taken away
,Tom me by the Legislature. Let me
'ay, once for all, that I am utterly un-
cached and unmoved by such threats.
would be willing TO be deprived OF
my amount of political patronage II
( were necessary to secure the enact
nsnt of law enforcement Legislation.
The threat Is also made that the
u resent election law will be repealed,
{ the efforts to enforce the four-mile
sw in the cities is persisted In. To
his ] say, that every enemy of the
aloon and every friend of law en-
orcement is the advocate of an honest
lection law without honest elections,
he saloons and its allied vices in the
files win erutrol this state. Ii win
~ an unfortunate day for Tennessee