The Columbia herald. [volume] (Columbia, Tenn.) 18??-1935, 1913-10-10
PASS LAW BILLS
SAYS DEMOCRATIC
CHAIRMAN MORTON
HEAD OF REGULAR COMMITTEE
ADVISES STATE SoLoNS
TO. ACT.
SAYS ITS DEMOCRATIC DUTY
Disapproves of Fiibusterins Tactics
and Thinks Law Favored by Ma
iority Should Pass-Probe Fire
Marshal Matter.


The law enforcement measures to
come before the extraordinary ses-
sion. j., d. G.. Morton, chairman of the
democratic state committee, one of
hose to whom the letter was sent,
states that every democrat should
vote for such measures as will tend
10 check the reign of lawlessness in
.t.le cites. He states that he believes
that me Nuisance bill and the two
jug bills aio god measures and
should be passed. He also advises
against tactics of filibustering against
the bills, claiming that such tactics
are undemocratic.
The following is the letter in full:
Il do not know what course any
member OF the legislature or any fac.
ion will pursue in the coming extra
session, but | can readily understand
that any democratic member may
view with suspicion and hesitate to
endorse any reform or law enforce.
ment measure advocated or proposed
by the governor or his advisers.
1T is a fact that before the legisla-
ture met that Gov. Hooper's friends
were to be given all the state offices
elective by the legislature, and two
Offices were to be created to be filed
by his appointment In considera-
ton for this the lawless saloons in
the cities were not to be interfered
with and no law enforcement meas
ures pressed.
at is fact that though he denies
that he was expressly party to this
agreement the governor knew of it..
He tacitly approved of it.. He ac-
cepted the benefits of it, and did not
press the law enforcement measures
or seriously attempt to regulate or
interfere with the Illegal liquor traf-
fic in Memphis or other cities until
the alliance, based upon this agree
ment, was broken and the power and
patronage he had obtained by virtue
|of it were thought to be threatened.
1t is fact that rather than have this
patronage and power endangered his
allies, fed he state, destroyed the leg
islature and rendered impossible the
passage, at the regular session, of
the bills he now advocates.
These facts together with the ex-
ceeding opportuneness with WHICH his
message came to the extra session to
laid the filibuster, gave good ground
+ for the belief that his purpose in
calling this second extra session was
rather to obtain political advantage
than to obtain the remedial, legisla-
Ition
But whatever may be the motives
of the governor, democrat in the ex-
ira session of the legislature can
best serve his party by serving his
state by advocating such laws as
will benefit the state without regard
to who proposes them or the motives
which prompted the calling of the
extra session.
1T is common knowledge that in
some of our cities the laws are open
ly disregarded and deied, and upon
this lawlessness, the tribute from it
and its protection have been founded
municipal machines which defy the
state government and are menace
to the state.
THE democratic party has no al
lance with lawlessness, does not
and cannot condone and protect it,
and is under no obligation to any one
whose power is based upon it.
Recent political developments
have awakened the state to the
shame of these conditions, and relief
is demanded. No democrat should
do anything to give the semblance of
credence to the charge that his course
is dictated by desire to protect the vi
olators of the law and those who do
protect them.
Though | have not carefully stud
led those measures | believe the So
called jug bills and nuisance bill'
which passed the senate are adapted
to give some relief. even though tenn
porary, in regard to these conditions.
At least / think they should be tried.
Conditions are intolerable and these
measures promise some relief.
think the removal bill should not be
passed. AS l understand it from a
casual reading its effect would be to
build up a rather dangerous machine,
than to prevent lawlessness. It gives
an, opportunity for tyrrany and op-
preston which is dangerous and I'M
democratic. This is merely my opin-
ion as to these specific measures, as