The Newport plain talk. (Newport, Tenn.) 1909-1939, 1914-01-08

mate Patterson. The reader may still
take choice between the two explana-
tions. Z
Then, again, Lea supported Shields for
supreme Judge. Patterson fought him.
LeaAfought Shields for United States
senator. Patterson supported him.
Lea supported statewide prohibition.
Patterson opposed it.
| Lea opposed the law enforcement leg
islation in the last legislature Patter-
son, at the eleventh hour, supported it.
! Shields was elected supreme Judge by
the Independent Democrats, but was
elected senator over their opposition and
by Regular Democratic votes.
Lea and Shields supported Hooper for
governor the first time, but both sup
ported McMillin against him in his Sec
ond race.
The Cause of 1t.
| As already intimated, this shifting of
the political scenery has been largely
due to considerations of national politics.
Retaining from participation in national
politics, Gov. Hooper has been able to
maintain consistent course in state
politics. By no other possible method
could he have retained the support of
the various political elements which have
constituted his following.
| Material for an interesting character
study of the four active leaders in Ten
nessee politics is afforded by these four
corners to the situation, and the sharp
contrast into which they are thrown.
Senator Lea is undoubtedly one of the
most resourceful politicians that Ten
nessee~has seen in many years. He is
past master in the planning and manipu-
lation which is done in the privacy of
the caucus or conference. He is an I'M
firing worker and places an exalted est-
mate upon success. He manifests won
derful ingenuity in reaching out and get
ting hold Of men supposedly antagonis-
tic and unattainable With these char
acteristics of daring and self-confidence,
it is but natural that he should occa-
sionally attempt the impossible. An ex-
ample of this was his effort in 1912 to
line up the Independent Democrats for
Preston for governor, who was known to
be the most pronounced friend of the
| liquor interests among the public men
| of the state. His more recent attempt
to induce Independent Democrats to OPP
pose law enforcement legislation was a
most reckless political undertaking,
whatever his motives may have been.
His present fight to place himself at the
head of the Regular Democratic organ
| ization is another example of political
daring The great work he did towards
the enactment of statewide prohibition
in 1909 was the most notable public serv-
ice he has rendered so far
Hooper's Record.
Gov. Hooper has been about the big
gest political surprise that the people of
Tennessee have ever been treated to. In
1910, when the Republicans and Independ.
ent Democrats were practically certain of
their ability to elect governor, Hooper
was Unexpectedly nominated. He was
well known in upper East Tennessee, but
| not elsewhere in the state. While his
friends expected him to make good as
candidate and an official, there were few
| if any of them who foresaw the diff
culties with which he would have ito
contend, or who would have predicted
that he could have come through the
| fight he has and attained to the leader
| ship which is now his.
As the succession of delicate and diff
cult situations unfolded themselves, the
people were continually surprised at the
skillful manner in which he handled
them. For while, his enemies said it
was just luck, but finally it began to
dawn upon the public that Hooper must
have something to do with it himself
The word accidental" has not been ap-
piled to him so often of late.
His speeches and written documents
have been remarkably free from polit-
cal mistakes. There has been nothing
spectacular in his methods. The most
simple and satisfactory explanation that
can be given for his successful leadership
is that he keeps looking ahead and GO
ing ahead. He has been compelled to
do more fighting in the last three years
than any other governor of Tennessee
ever underwent, but he has never
flinched He has received less criticism
at the hands of those who elected him,
either Republicans or Democrats. than
rarely fall to the lot of public official.
He has been watched more closely and
assailed by his enemies with less dam
age than would seem possible.
Through all the fighting and the po-
litical changing he has the distinction
of having maintained his convictions on
the prohibition and law enforcement
question, and having never wavered in
his unceasing fight for these principles.
Shields Attitude.
Senator Shields has been recognized as
one of the ablest lawyers in the state,
and he is also man of great political
judgment and foresight. He was the
recognized leader of the independent jul
dietary fight in 1910 from its inception
to the end. The senator is man Of de-
ceptive appearance in one respect. His
mild and subdued look and manner give
no evidence of the amount of sand, pep
per and ginger that enter into his make
up. He is as lively scrapper when once
thoroughly aroused as any one would
care to see. His successful fight for the
senatorship last winter was managed by
him with the most consummate ability.
This must be admitted even by the In
dependent Democrats who were ag-
grieved at his becoming the candidate of
the Regulars, and at his subsequent