The commercial. (Union City, Tenn.) 190?-193?, 1914-10-23
Rye a Prohibitionist.

1 -
are publishing a political editorial from
the gifted pen OF Mr.. McSpedden, whom
we regard as high-toned Christian gen.
tleman and one of The Commercial;
best friends. OF course we do not agree
with Mr.. McSpedden, but see no reason
why man with honest convictions, al
we believe his are, should not be heard.
In the first place Mr.. Mcspedden as
sumes Mr.. Hooper to have all the vir'
tues and Mr.. Rye to have none. This
position The Commercial has never
taken about any public man.
In regard to the speeches, Mr.. Nc
Spedden points out that Mr.. Hooper
made complete statement OF facts,
moral and financial, including his ex-
posure OF political fraud and corrup-
ton. Mr.. McSpedden is placing Mr..
Hooper in the light OF moral and civic
righteousness, and Mr.. Rye in the dark
ness OF political debauch. Does Mr..
McSpedden really think this2 Is it pos
sible to think that Mr.. Rye would pre-
| meditatedly enter into such collision?
Would President Wilson, whom not only
the Democracy but the great majority
OF the American people regard as one
OF the greatest and soundest mental and
moral characters in United States his
tory, openly indorse such man. Would
Mr.. Bryan, the great commoner, the
greatest living embodiment OF disinter-
ested patriotism and principle, we be-
lieye, in the world, who has devoted his
life work to the purity OF government
and to the moral and civic welfare ct
mankind, indorse man for the posi-
ton OF Governor, who is under the
control and lends bis aid to regime OF
political corruption9
We don't believe it and neither do we
believe that Mr. McSpedden, il he takes
time to consider the matter fairly and
squarely, would take such position.
We are discussing issues now without
reference to party and assuming the
men to be on an equal political footing.
We dom know what scheme OF govern
ment Mr.. McSpedden has espoused,
whether it is democracy, limited SOW
ereignty or absolutism. Whether Mr..
McSpedden is heart and soul with De-
mocracy or Republicanism we have not
yet been fully advised. He has written
very little along that line in local organs.
MANY OF those who are so enthusiastic
about Mr.. Hooper are really Repub-
licans. They do not credit the leaders
and the tenets OF Democracy. They
have very little confidence in the stability
OF men and measures that inure to the
interests OF the common people. Bat
Mr.. McSpedden may not belong to this
class. He may be genuine Democrat.
More inconsistent if he is.
But returning to Mr.. Rye. Let us
compare mot with Mr.. Hooper but
with those who have been accredited
with conscientious professions for Pro-
hibition. This paper, mind you, has
never accused Mr.. Hooper OF being
without some sincerity in his stand for
Prohibition. But we do believe that
bis inclinations and purposes are more
completely welded to Republicanism
than to Prohibition, and his first duty
would be to the Republican party regard
less OF Prohibition. This is as far as we
have taken liberties with Mr.. Hooper.
As to his ability, Mr.. McSpedden will
have to show us more specifically where
in lies his advantage, both as speaker
and a man, than has ever yet been
made public. 1t will take more au-
thenticated statistics and cold facts than
would be contained in document the
size Of Mr.. Rye's speech to prove this.
Mr.. Hooper's very ordinary and unin-
teresting assertions to this end are not
conclusive. But how about Mr.. Car
mack, the martyr to Prohibition. Was
| be always q Prohibitionists Mr.. Car
mack voted against and fought the
amendment to the constitution sub
hitting the question OF Statewide Pro-
hibition to a vote OF the people OF Ten
nessee in 1887. Where was Mr.. Rye
at that timer He voted for this amend
ment and gave it his aid and support
What was his object in doing so il be
was not sincere9 1t is said that be voted
| for the Democratic nominees-the reg
ulars. So he did, perhaps, but does
THAT preclude him the rights OF the
charmed circIe-the right TO wear the
lcolors OF Prohibition His record al