The Lexington progress. (Lexington, Tenn.) 1884-current, 1913-03-14
Gov. Hooper Explains the
Agreement With Mayor Crump.

6AySh V1e SAhSstoJ Va A&1b
week by Governor Hooper prior
to his departure from the Capitol
for q weeks trip:
Zone day this week there ap-
peared in the Tennessean and
American an editorial, written,
as | am informed, by Senator
Lea, entitled, Dangerous Breach
of Faith, This editorial discuss
es the law enforcement legisla-
tion now pending before the Gen
eral Assembly and the legislative
lineup in connection Herewith
in a manner that practically i'm
poses upon me the duty to make
answer for myself and my friends
in the Legislature.
There is no use in dealing in
mysteries in the discussion Of
this matter. Ifanybody has been
guilty of q dangerous breach Of
faith relative to law enforcement
legislation, let somebody's hand
be laid upon his shoulder, accom-
panied by the words: Thou art
the man,
The Tennessean editorial, sim
mered down, amounts to this I:
Senator Lea and others confess.
eddy made deal with Mr.. Crump
and his delegation that there
should be no law enforcement
legislation enacted at this sea-
sion OF the Legislature. Not
withstanding this agreement,
Governor Hooper and the Repub-
lican and Independent members
of the Legislature have been
pressing law enforcement legis-
lation. Therefore, there has
been dangerous breach OF
faith
THE logic of this agreement
jumps q cog to reach the conclu-
sion. There has evidently been
no breach Of faith upon the part
Of members of the Legislature
aud myself, unless we were par
ties to Senator LEAFS deal with
Mr.. Crump. This brings us to
the meat Of the matter.
Back in November, a confer
ence Of certain Independent
Democratic leaders was held
with Mr.. Orump for the purpose
Of arranging a working basis for
CO. operation between the Shelby
County delegates and the Inde-
pendent Democrats and Repub-
licans in the Legislature. As
stated by the Tennessean, it was
known that the Republicans and
Independents alone could not or
ganize the Legislature. Neither
could the Shelby County delega-
ton organize itsNlone. 1t was
also a recognized fact that there
were certain important public
Questions upon which the Repub-
licans, Independents and Shelby
Countians were agreed. Among
these the Tennessean correctly
ennmerates the defeat of Patter.
son and Dibrell, the wiping out
of the back-tax system, and a
thorough Investigation Of the
state Offices.
1T is my information that no
written agreement was ever
made in regard to any of these
matters, but while said confer
ence was in progress a written
memorandum was sent to me,
covering the matters suggested
by said conference as proper for
organized cooperation.
COUNTER MEMORANDUM.
II looked it over, approved of
it in the main, and sent a coun-
ter memorandum o ntainin 6
notifications and additions. In
the counter memorandum sent
by me, / suggested among other
things that the junketing COM
mittee system should be cut out,
that interest should be required
on State deposits, and that the
indeterminate sentence and pa.
role law, the corrupt practices
act and the anti pass law for
public officials should be enact.
ed. Among the suggestions in
the memorandum sent me, I
quote the following:
Present statutes prohibiting
the manufacture and sale of liq.
uors to remain unchanged upon
the statute books
From the memorandum writ
len and returned by me, | quote
the following:
" Let temperance legislation
be left out Of the agreement.
Pledges Of members are so posi-
tive on these matters, they
Should be left to individual con-