The Columbia herald. [volume] (Columbia, Tenn.) 18??-1935, 1914-05-01
THE INDEPENDENTS.

THE INDEPENDENTS.
! There will be no surprise express
ed over the action of the independ.
emit state convention at Nashville on
Wednesday. The nomination or en-
dorsement Of Gov. Hooper has been a
foregone conclusion ever since the
state committee took precipitate and
unprecedented action in calling the
early convention. Justice Williams
received the endorsement which he
deserves and which was expected.
He should not have any opposition
he is entitled to a full term and ev-
cry consideration of patriotism and
sound politics dictates that he should
! be given a clear field.
| The convention wednesday was
made up Of small but eminently
high class body Of men. 1t would
not compare in size to either of the
three previous state conventions
held by the independent democrats
in Tennessee. But the men WHO at
tended its sessions are, as general
rule, high class citizens, the majority
of whom are inspired by purely pat
riotic purposes. OF course it will be
conceded that democratic members
of the state administration were ac-
tive in working up interest in the
assembly.
A large majority Of those who at
tended the state convention would
have voted for Hooper just as hearth
ly and just as quickly had the con-
vention of Wednesday never been
held. They are independents and
they have made up their minds that
they will support Hooper regardless
of the issues or developments of the
campaign.
Thousands of independent demo-
Gratis who attended the conventions
of 1910 and 1912 remainded at home;
they too are Independents. They
rather resented the precipitate ac-
ton of the state committee, but
being Independents they simply
quietly abstained from participation
in any meeting and preserved their
independence. A majority of those
who remained at home may ultimate
ly vote for Hooper, but they are not
going to be rushed into binding
themselves to his support by any
coterie Of politicians or any commit
tee.
Gov. Hooper made bright speech
the nomination He al
most always does. He is ready and
fluent When he stated that the in
dependent democrats had no leaders
but that each independent democrat
was his own leader, he told the truth
and he came pretty near telling why
the convention Wednesday was not
larger. The great majority of the
Independent democrats of Tennessee
are agreed that it was unwlse and
impolitics to hold snap convention
this year and try to commit them to
any party or candidate in advance
of having all the light of the cam
paign before them. May be all or
the most of them will vote with
those who nominated Hooper, but if
they do it will be because of a firm
conviction that his election will best
serve the cause of good government,
and not because Of any endorsement
or nomination that he may have OBJ
tanned from any party or faction.
Another thing: Abuse of those
who remained at home and preserved
that independence which has been
their dearest privilege and their
chief virtue, is not going to help the
cause Of good government. 1t will
not elect legislature of high class,
patriotic, disinterested men, moved
alone by desire to do their state
the highest service. The gentlemen
who made up Wednesdays meeting.
patriotic and eminently respectable
as they admittedly are, could not
alone and unaided, elect legislature =,
In Tennessee.