McNairy County independent. (Selmer, McNairy County, Tenn.) 1902-1969, 1914-10-30

Il. A new law to meet the require
ments of the Federal Webb law.
". A law to empower the Governor
Of the state to remove or suspend from
office unfaithful city officials for good
cause.
49, A law to more definitely pre-
the courts for the removal of county
officials for misfeasance, nonfeasance
or malfeasance In Office"
GENERALIZATION OF REGULARS.
Over against the clear-cut, ringing
declarations we have in the platform OF
the regulars" simply the following gen.
eralization:
I'VE are opposed to the repeal of any
of the temperance laws now in force,
and we pledge the Democratic party TO
their maintenance and to such addition
al legislation as may be necessary to in
sure their right enforcement.
In view of the fact that law enforce
ment is the paramount issue in the pres.
ent campaign, we regard the fragment OF
the above sentence which refers to the
question, and which is all the platform
has to say on the subject, as entirely IN
adequate aid out of all proportion to the
great interests Of the state which are in
volved in it. To those who put the de-
struction of the liquor traffic above party
success, as the principles of the Anti
odloufl League require, tne ueclaraiou
of the regular" platform on law en-
forcement looks very much like an ef-
fort to evade the real issue of the cam
paign.
(b) Nation wide prohibition
On this question the Independent Dem
ocratS speak as follows:
Not forgetting for a moment the
necessity of eternal vigilance in Tennes-
see, we are glad to note that the move
ment has been nation wide, and we here
oy pledge our heartiest support to the
proposed amendment TO the Federal Con-
sttution prohibiting the manufacture,
sale or importation of Intoxicating liz
uors as a beverage in the United States"
The Republican platform declares for
nationwide prohibition in the following
unmistakable terms
I'VE hereby declare ourselves in favor
Of the adoption of an amendment to the
Federal Constitution forever prohibiting
the sale and manufacture of intoxicating
beverages. We obgate ourselves to the
support of this amendment when it is
submitted to the Legislature of our state,
and we call upon the people to instruct
their candidates for the General Assem-
bly, In favor Of this amendment"
say on this subject? Not one word.
(c), The election laws.
All three platforms declare in favor Of
the present election laws However this
ls a beated endorsement as far as the
regulars are concerned They have
Ought this law ever since its passage.
Their. present endorsement of it is not
only late, ii is also partial and reserved.
rhe regular platform says;
1--WE believe that bona fde representa-
fion should be given to both political
parties on the State Board of Election
Commissioners, and it was for the want
of bona fide representation that we have
heretofore criticised the present election
laws, This law is a good one If properly
administered. and we pledge our party
to maintain the present election laws,
and to the fair administration thereof, 10
the end that the spirit of the same win
be carried out and both parties properly
and equitably represented"
THE OBJECTION.
In this statement objection is raised
tion," which, as explained. means the
want OF bona fde representation" The
phrase bona Iide Representatives is not
explained. Its meaning, however, is un-
mstakable Bona fide representation
means liquor representation. 1t can not
mean party representation, for the dec
laration itself comedies that both par
ties should be represented on the State
this law lies deeper than party lines.
Since the passage of this law in 1909 the
regular Democrats, Gen. Rye included,
SO far as we are informed, have object
ed to ii on the ground that the Election
Commission has not been dominated by
liquor Democrats and Republicans. This
Is the only objection they now have to
ii. II this were a matter of party poll |
tics, pure and simple, it would have no
place in a declaration issued by the Anti |
Saloon League But when the reverse is |
the case and the party question is elm
mated and the liquor question remains |
we regard ii as of paramount importance |
that our organization and its friends
work for the defeat of any candidate who |
proposes to have the State Election Com
mission composed in part or in whole Of |
the friends of liquor. Such n result IL |
brought about, would threaten the pro-
hibition cause with irreparable damage,
If not utter destruction.
2. The official pronouncements of the II
candidates.
The Anti Saloon League addressed
both Governor Hooper and Gen. Rye a |
communication calling on them to state |
In their own words, not in the words OF
the platforms. their positions on the is |
sues which most concern our organiza-
ton. Both In his answer to our commu-
nication and In his campaign speeches |
Governor Hooper has been direct and
definite. This is true also of Gen Rye, |
except with regard to the most import
ant point Of. all, namely, the enforcement |
ur greatest problem, he offers in a |
speculative, tentative way several pos
sible solutions, such as the use Of the |
recall. the creation OF a special commis- |
sion, the removal of officials through the
Attorney General Of the state, or through |
the medium of one of the courts (what |
court he does not say). He gives no as
surance as to which OF these methods,
If any. he viii advocate. Space win not
permit us to point out the objections
which we have to Gen. Ryes pronounce |
ments on this question. 1t Is sufficient |
to say that he Caoes not tell the people |
plainly how he proposes to remedy their |
chief trouble-the notification of law in |
the large cities. On this point his own
announcements agree with the declara-
tions of his platform--both are entirely |
too general
THEIR RECORDS.