The Columbia herald. [volume] (Columbia, Tenn.) 18??-1935, 1914-06-05


Of Tennessee. For the last two year
he has been the stormy petrol arount
which there has ragged ceaselesi
storm. He has been more bitterly
assailed probably than any man now
conspicuous in public life In the state
He has been attacked from every
side. At times it has looked al
though he must succumb; that he
could not survive the terrific on
slaughts that have been made upor
him from all qparters. But today he
stands the dominant and dominating
figure of democratic party, regener
ated, revived, militant and hopeful
Enemies may assail and critics may
declare that Lea is simply the crea
ture of circumstances, that he has not
merit but audacity; no claim to sue.
cess except ceaseless energy. But
no man of ordinary clay, no one
moulded in a common type, could
have achieved the results that Luke
Lea has obtained in the brief span
of eight years and all before he en-
erged from the swaddling clothes Of
youth. A brief and impartial review
Of the record Of this altogether uni
que character, this young man who,
though born to afluence and luxury,
reared in ease and comfort, has new
er a day in his life eaten of idle
bread, will convince any one of the
truth and force of our observations.
Eight years ago, when just seven
and twenty years of age, out Of
college but short time, an unknown
and briefless lawyer, he seized the
emblem Of power and authority in a
democratic state convention amid
scenes that for turbulence, turmoil
and bitter hatred were truly prophe-
tic of the eight years that were to
follow. In the legislative session
next ensuing he was we'll known
figure. Much Of the legislation en-
acted at that time was the result OF
his efforts. He was one OF the
closest adviseres Of the then COVER
nor. Two years later, becoming con-
WINGED that the state administration
had been false to the people and un-
true to it's professions, becoming the
tool of the special interests, Lea
espaused the cause Of the lamented
Senator Carmack. In the meantime
he had established great temper
ance democratic journal at the capt. |
tai, the first in Nashville to fire a
volley into the ranks of the we'll or
ganized, well trained and thoroughly |
equipped liquor hosts of Tennessee
With all the power and resources at |
his command he fought for the cleo
ton of Carmack and the destruction
of the liquor power. IN the first en-
counter he met defeat.
It is typical Of Luke Lea that he
never recognizes defeat; he never
knows a dark hour; he never yields.
No matter how unpromising the pros
pect his faith in ultimate victory re-
mains ever mistaken. After the ;
election of 1908 he continued
,ne of the most valuable and intrep-
I'd lieutenants of the immortal Car
mack in the great contest to elect a Il
legislature. After that aw-
ul tragedy which robbed Tennessee s
Il its foremost citizen and the tenn
,erance forces Of their great leader. !
t was Luke Lea who rallied the IL
,roken and disheartened forces and t
matched victory from defeat. Pro- v
ibition was written bold upon the t
tatute books of Tennessee because n
luke Lea refused like the Old Guard c
t Waterloo, to die or surrender. n
And in the campaign of 1910, when "
he democratic organization proved
self merely the tool Of one man, the t,
lave of the special interests, Luke p
ea's clarion call to the patriots OF o
ennessee was heard above the din tt
nd confusion and the victories OF b
ugust and November resulted. Be- al
veen contests he found time to p
hitch" the old Nashville American c.
i'd at a crucial moment in the con- in
let robbed the enemy Of its only m
iddle Tennessee organ, a feat that I'll
'obably turned the tide. b,
And then came that legislature OF &C
,ubt and uncertainty. On ballot ell
ter ballot the forces of good gov al
nment failed in the election OF si
nator. Then Luke Lea seized the ce
andard and carried it to triumph. pc
Q began shortly afterward the most ty
.anic struggle of them all, the re- ev
neration of the democratic party. te
le primary OF 1912 showed that the he
ganization was joined to its idols In
d the spcctre of Patterson in the ity
aork