Atlanta Georgian. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1912-1939, 1914-03-22

taFlndtks slogan in demanulhS
Statewide prohibition.
Patterson DEFENDED the liquor in
terests on local option platform. He
and Carm3ck canvss sed the state in
spectacular joint debate and on in
dividual speaking tours. Patterson
go the nomination for a second term
in the party primary
Luke Lea then made Carmack ed
tor of his newspaper CarmaCk con-
tlnued his war on the liquor interests
and on Patterson through the editorial
volumns Of The Tennesscan.
Within q week after the November,
1908 election that returned Patterson
to the Governors chair. Carmack was
assassinated on the streets Of Nash
willie. Duncan b. Cooper, Patterson
leader; his son, Robin Cooper, and
John Sharp, an intimate friend Of
Patterson and the Coopers, were ar
rested as the assassns, The murder
was the direct outgrowth OF scathing
editorial criticism Of the elder Cooper
for bringing about a reconciliation be-
tween Patterson and Cox, whereby
| Cox became Patterson champion.
Prohibition an Issue.
| Carmack's supporters ! sed a cry
for State wide prohibition as ven
geance for his death. 1t became such
a formidable issue between November
and January that the CarmaCk Dem
! ocrats, aided by Republicans, passed
a Statewide prohibition law before
| the legislative session was more than
a week old Patterson vetoed It, and
his veto was overrldden There was
| the beginning OF the Independent
DemocraticR Republican fusion that
| the President and Administration
| leaders now seek to end
The Coopers and Sharp were tried
soon after the prohibition law was
| enacted The Coopers were convict 1,
| Sharp being acquitted. They APP
pealed to the Tennessee Supreme
| Court, which granted Robin Cooper
a new trial. but affirmed the sentence
| of his father. Patterson, as Govern
or pardoned Duncan Cooper the same
| day the S lpreme Court announced its
! decision. This pardon added fuel to
the flame of hatred and cemented the
Independent Democratic Republican
coalition. Down with Patterson"
was the cry. Luke Lea. with his news
paper was leading the fusionlsts.
Wars on Supreme Court.
Patterson opened war on the Su
preme Court for its Cooper decision.
A new Supreme Court was to be elect
ed in the summer OF 1910 The flu
| sionists nominated ticket Of Car
| mack democrats, including those
| judges who had voted to affirm Dun
| can Cooper's sentence. The fight was
| carried into the general election and
the fusion court was elected. Judge
| Shields, now Senator, was made chief
| justice.
Patterson at this time had an
nounced for third term as Governor
In the November election AS a re-
ward for the Republican support IN
| the judicial election, the fusionists IN
dorsed Hooper the Republican Guber-
| material nominee. The situation was
| desperate for the Pattei son forces.
| They forced him TO withdraw and
! brought Bob Taylor home from Wash
| ington in an effort to stem the tide
and save the Governorship. Senator
Taylor took the nomipation, but even
his popularity could not save the day.
| Hooper was elected by good major
ity,
The fusion compact was continued
through the 1871 legislative session.
and additional prohibition laws and
| new election laws were enacted.
| Senator Fraziers term expired dur
! ing this session Patterson was
| among the candidates for his seat.
Frazier sought reelection. Neither
| showed any appreciahle strength The
! Legislature was deadlocked for weeks
with numerous candidates in the run
ming Finally the fusionists centersi
| on Luke Lea and he was elected.
Bob Taylor Dies.
| Bob Taylur's death in 1912, was The
! next development His term wound
have expired in March 1918 Govern
or Hooper appointed Newell Sanders,
/ Republican national committeeman.
/ to the vacancy pending the 1913 leg
/ islative session.
! The fusioniSts renominated Hoop
/ cr for Governor in 1912. The Demo-
| Gratis had tired OF Patterson aud
| dropped him the year before. r. r.
/ Preston, a Chattanooga banker and
! BENTON McMillln, former Governor
and Congressman. sought the nominal
! ton MCMillin won and went against
Hooper, who defeated him worse than
/ he had Taylor two years before
/ The fusion combination still held In
! the 1913 Legislature. passing more
/ prohibition and election laws
| W, r. Webb, an Independent Demo-
! Cr1t, head Of a boys school at Bell
! buckle was sent 90 the Senate to
/ serve until March. A free for-all fight
! for the tull-term Sendtorship was
precipitated. chief Justice Shields
was one ut the many candidates, His
+ candidacy displeased some OF the fp-
! sion leaders. lie retaliated by cast
/ ing off his allegiance to the fusion
! movement The regular Democrats
/ then supported him lie carried
/ enough of the Independents to win
| the election after long deadlock
Agree on Patronage.
Senator lea fought Shields cleo
] ton but after the Wilson aumlniS-