The Columbia herald. [volume] (Columbia, Tenn.) 18??-1935, 1913-01-17
GOOD YEARS WORK.

Tennesseans did good years work
when they reelected Ben w. Hooper
as governor and elected legislature
that forced the withdrawal of Patter-
son and Dibrell from public life. Now
liz this legislature will retire Good
loe and Tom Taylor there will be no
cause for complaint regardless of its
other shortcomings If year ago
one had predicted that all these re-
suits could be accomplished in the
short space of twelve months he
would have been put high on the roll
of optimists. All of which goes to
prove the intelligence and patriotism
of the people of Tennessee Once
aroused and once informed as to the
real issues they can be depended
upon to make the proper settlement.
Most righteous verdicts have been
rendered by the people during the
past twelve months and the legisla-
tors should see to it that the plain
mandate of the peole is not defeated.
1t was probably more important Tor
the material interests OF the state
that Dibrell should be retired Than
that Patterson should be beaten. Or
course for reasons of state pride Pat
terson's defeat for the senate was
the supreme consideration in the con-
test last year. But Dibrelps back
tax machine has been a constant me-
mace to the material advancement OF
the state. It has been a continuous
threat against legitimate ENTERPRISE.
With the passing of it's head into pri-
vate life we expect to see capital
breathe easier.
Frank Dibrell is not bad man at
heart. He has some good qualities.
His chief trouble lay in the fact that
he, like old dog Tray, fell into bad
company. He was used by the mer-
cenary interests to help them pull
their chestnuts out of the fire. He al.
lowed his machine to become oppres'
sive to the people. We do not now
and have never believed that Dibrell
has profited at all from the macbina-
lions of his back tax gang. but his
persistent refusal to permit his books
to be examined has furnished good
reason for the general suspicion that
attaches to the management of his Of
fee. He has pursued the wrong
course. He has taken all criticisms
of his official conduct as personal at
tacks and has answered them by bill
ligsgate and personal denunciation.
Every man and every paper who has
criticised Mr.. Dibrells official admin
istration is not his enemy. Certainly
this paper has no personal grudge
against the comptroller, but its fair
and candid criticism of his Official
shortcomings was made the excuse
for flood of billingsgate and denun-
citation that would shame any man.
Let us trust that Mr.. Dibrell will
learn a lesson from the events Of the
past year; that he will find out that
public Office is not the private proper
ty of any man, however we'll en-
trenched he may fatter himself to
be; that the people have rights which
they will not be denied, chief of
which is the privilege Of looking into
the books of their public servants at
will. 1t is also to be hoped that Mr..
Dibrell has learned that people are
not interested in what his personal
opinion may be of his critics, but they
are vitality concerned about the man
her in which he has administered his |
public trust. Other officials should |
profit from the experience of Mr.. Dib- :
ell.