The comet. (Johnson City, Tenn.) 1884-1916, 1914-10-29
WHICH SHALL 1T BE?

The question is frequently asked,
why should democrats and independ-
ents support Rye in preference to
Hooper for governor? 1t is argued
that the republican platform declares
for prohibition and the democratic
platform for the enforcement of all
laws, irrespective of what they are,
and the prohibition law being one Of
them, it necessarily follows that both
party declarations are alike on the
one question which has divided demo-
Gratis and effected the solidarity of the
republican party. These premises be-
ing true two considerations are left
for the decision of democrats, regu-
lars as well as independents: "a
Party principles and fidelity and (2)
the records and personality of the can
didates.
Taking the second subject first:
Gen. Rye's public record is brief, but
it is creditable alike to himself and
to the people who conferred public
Office upon him. Not breath of scan
dial, and no accusations of neglect of
duty. have been uttered against his
conduct of public Office by any disin-
terested person, and his private life
has no blemish and is untarnished.
Though Gen. Rye has no conspicuous
pannrd in 70 fY1th1ia fhaf ic
not to his discredit. Many of the
greatest public men of this and other
times entered official life with public
records no more distinguishing than
he, but have written their names large
in history among the greatest in the
land and with the sincere approval
and plaudits of the people, irrespec-
tive of their party Affiliations.
Gov. Hooper has record extending
over more than three years and
half, but it is one to which neither he,
his party nor his state can point with
pride. 1t is one of error both of omis-
sion and commission. 1t is one of
trade and traffic at the expense of the
people; it is record of political
manipulation and chicanery that has
left Tennessee PROSTATE and drifting
backward from her rightful place in
the sisterhood of states; it has broken
her credit, increased her debt, burden
ed her people with useless offices,
preventing immigration through the
insane policies pursued, driven manu-
facturers to seek other and healthier
business chimes; connived at the alb
scondence of legislators; traded with
Crump, Lea, Stahlman and the Anti
Saloon League for personal political
advantage at the expense of the state;
condoned and fostered the fire marshal
graft, and done so many and sundry
other indefensible acts that the four
years of Hooper are the most humili-
ating in the entire annals Of the state.
The pages containing the history of
the days OF reconstruction contain
nothing darker and the welfare of the
state suffered no more then, than it
has during the four years of Hooper.
On the question of party principle
and fidelity there is less to say. Both
party platforms on the subject of pro-
hibition, the question that has divided
the democratic party heretofore, are
practically alike, II not In words at
least In spirit Such being the case
there remains no reason why all demo-
Gratis, regulars and independents alike
should not vote for Gen. Rye for gov
ernor, at least when Hooper is the al
tentative. The regulars because they
made the platform, the independents
because they have insisted all along
that Il was the party's attitude on