The Columbia herald. [volume] (Columbia, Tenn.) 18??-1935, 1914-11-06
MASTERLY PLEA IS
MADE BY Gates FOR
DEMOCRATIC PARTY
TELLS THE INDEPENDENTS
THAT CAUSES OF DIVISION NO
LONGER EXIST.
HEARD BY A LARGE AUDIENCE
From Every Portion of the County
Representative Voters Came to
Hear and Applaud One of States
Most Brilliant Sons.
saturdays Daily

To a large and representative audi
ence, composed almost exclusively of
voters, Charles T. Gates, the former
brilliant attorney general of Tennes-
see, at the opera house this after
noon pleaded with the democrats to
forget their former differences and
elect Rye governor and restore this
state to the rule Of the traditional
party of the people.
There have been Larger audiences
assembled to hear public speakers in
Columbia than that this afternoon,
but it is doubtful if a speaker ever ad-
dressed one where the percentage of
voters was so large or which SO we'll
represented every section of the coun.
ty, and one that was more sympa-
thetic and cordial in it's reception.
The first floor of the opera house was
filled, many standing around the walls
and in the aisles and there was fair
sprinkling in the gallery.
The audience was en- rapport with
the speaker. They literally applaud
ed his telling blows and cheered
when they told him why there was no
longer any reason for Independent
democrats voting with the republi-
cans in Tennessee. The speech Of
Gen. Gates was a mastery presenta-
ton of the issues. 1t was logical,
forceful and argumentative. He gave
reasons for the faith that was in him.
There was no effort at rounded peri
DDS, at flowery perorations or flam-
buoyant oratory, but in straightfor-
ward, earnest and logical manner
Gen. Gates discussed the real issues
OF the day.
The speaker was introduced by w.
c. Whitthorne in few well chosen
words. MIR. Whitthorne said that the
speaker, distinguished and honored
Tennessean, came here to plead for
a reunited and militant democracy.
Gen. Gates was roundly cheered
when he arose and without any pre-
liminaries he at once launched into
a discussion of the issues of this cam
paign.
Gen. Gates commenced his speech
by saying that four years ago he
stood in the same place, speaking to
many now in his audience, and urg-
ed the election of Hooper. Il told
you then" said Gen. Gates, that
whenever the democratic organiza
ton of Tennessee should restore to
the people, whenever the clutches of
special interests should be removed
from it, that l would then plead with
you for democratic success. l am
here today to fulfill that pledge. The
democratic party has restored the Or
ganization to the people; il no longer
represents the will of one man. Your
state committee is now selected by
your representatives from the sever.
al districts and no man any longer
has the right or power to add to or to
take from that representation. Is
that not a fact? Was not one of our
first and strongest indictments four
years ago based upon the failure Of
the machine to restore the organiga
ton to the democratic vot srs?
Il am here to'ay to speak largely
to independent friends, to those
who have in the past fought with me
and with whom l loDe ut tie
battles of democracy in the future.
Four years ago told you that when
special interests should no longer
control or dominate ,le democratic
party that l would stand with the or.
ganization, l am now here to fulfill
that pledge to you. And no man four
years ago or today Is more independ-
ent than l am"
Gen. Gates then proceeded in dis
passionate manner to trace tho dlvi-
sions in the democratic party, the
causes that led to The split four years
ago. He declared that the reasons
which then actuated the democrats TO
leave the organization did not longer
exist. In the course of his speech
Gen. Gates paid hign tribute to the
democratic nominee, Gen. T. c. Rye,
whom he said was absolutely wo'thy
of the confidence of the people OF
Tennessee. Time and again the
speech was inter- lptsd Win leerty
applause. The telling points Of the
speaker delighted the auditors. Po-
itically the audience was a repre-
sentative one, there being those of |
all shades of belief present to listen |