The Columbia herald. [volume] (Columbia, Tenn.) 18??-1935, 1914-03-27
THE CORRECT ATTITUDE.


In asking for a delay in the action
of the independent democratic COM
mittee of Tennessee, The Herald and
those who shared it's views, made no
sort of a plea for harmony" nor sug-
gested in any way whatever the aban-
donment of a single principle upon
which the independent democratic
organization of the state was founded.
On the other hand they stood square
ly upon those principles.
Heretofore the Independent demo-
Gratis of Tennessee have held their
gubernatorial conventions after the
other great parties had nominated
candidates and promulgated plat
forms. AS democrats they have met
with all the lights before them. and
have acted as they believed for the
best interests of the state and the
good of all the people.
The Independents are largely DEM
ocrats. They have supported repub-
lican candidate for governor in oppo-
sition to the regular organization OF
the party because they could not con-
sistently support the candidates and
platform of their party. They left
the democratic party for certain rea-
sons and because Of certain issues.
There is not a man who attended the
first independent convention four
years ago who would not then have
yehemently denied that he was attach
ing himself permanently to the re-
publican party.
Now it was insisted by The Herald
and those who agreed with it, that as
democrats, it was our duty to wait un
til the democratic party had nominal
ed it's candidate for governor anC
promulgated it's platform, before rush
ing to the support of an alien politica
party. It was and is our position tha
no man or party should be condemn
ed in advance of hearing. In doing
this we were standing squarely upol
upon the traditions and principles o
the independents.
Again we urged delay in the en-
dorsement or nomination of candid
date for governor at a judicial conver
ton. Every one knows that the seps
ration of the judiciary from partisa
politics was the bed rock upon whic
the Independent democracy wa
founded. 1t was the election of
free and independent judiciary an
not the temperance question, as man
enormously state, that divided tn
democratic party in Tennessee.
we were right in 1910 upon this issu
we are right in 1914.
AS an independent journal, with
decided preference toward democrac
all things being equal, it was and
our opinion that the independent der
ocrats of Tennessee should wait u
til after the regulars have nominate
a candidate and promulgated a pla
form before committing themselv'
to any organization in this campaig
If the regulars should nominate
high class, Christian gentleman
ability, patriotism and integrit
whose past life is guarantee OF b
devotion to the principles which ha
actuated and guided the independe
democracy of Tennessee in the pa
upon a platform that accepts con
lions as they are, pledges the party
temperance and law enforcement a
honest elections, and a judiciary II
from political or partisan dominate
then the causes which prompted
to leave the democratic party will
removed.
Now, why this hurry? Why is
more important to hold guberna
rial convention in April this year TT
it was in 1910 and 1912 in both
which years the independents W
successful? What good purpose
be served now by departure IT
precedent?
It should be plain to any disco
of the liquor traffic, for the enfo
ment of the laws and for honest
lions. 1t would have supported
other individual under the same
cumstances, standing for these pri
pies.
Under the same circumstances
Herald would again urge the cleo
of Gov. Hooper. 1t would do SO "
no convention at all held by the Il
pendents. If either the candidate
the platform of the so-called reg
democracy should in any way thr
en- the temperance laws, or I'm
their enforcement or jeapordize
,,ro,oot ovcfam of fair elections,