Atlanta Georgian. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1912-1939, 1914-03-22
TENNESSEE DEMOCRATS
ENLIST PRESIDENT AID
Situation Regarded As Grave, Since State Must
Present Solid Front in National Elections
Two Years Hence.
Continued From Page I,

I Carmacks slogan in demanding
State wide prohibition
| Patterson defended the liquor IN
terests on a local option platform He
and CarmaCk Canvassed the State IN
a spectacular joint debate and on IN
dividual speaking tours Patterson
got the nomination for 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 Tennessean.
Within "A week after the November
1908. election that returned Patterson
to the Governors chair Carmack was
assassinated on the streets Of Nash
Vile Duncan b. Cooper, a Patterson
leader; his son, Robin Cooper, and
John Sharp, an Intimate friend OF
Patterson and the Coopers, were ar
rested as the assassins. The murder
was the direct outgrowth Of scathng
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
formidable issue between November
and January that the Carmack Dem
ocrats, aided by Republicans, passed
a State wide prohibition law before
the legislative session was more than
a week old. Patterson vetoed It, and
his veto was overridden. There was
the beginning of the Independent
Democratic Republican fusion that
the President and Administration
leaders how seek to end.
The Coopers and Sharp we're tried
soon after the prohibition law was
enacted. The Coopers were convicts !,
Sharp being acquitted. They ap-
pealed to the Tennessee Supreme
Court. which granted Robin Cooper
new trial, but affirmed the sentence
OF his father Patterson, as Govern
or pardoned Duncan Cooper the same
day the Supreme 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 fusionists.
Wars on Supreme Court.
Patterson opened war on the Su-
preme Court for its Cooper decisiol
A new Supreme Court was to be elect
ed in the summer Of 1910. The flu
Eionists nominated a ticket OF Car
. mack Democrats, including those
judges who had voted to affirm Dun
can Ccoper'A 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
L., IL "a
!, 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 Patterson forces
u They forced him to withdraw ant
brought Bob Taylor home from Wash
ington in an effort to stem the tide
and save the Governorship. Senator
Taylor took the nomination, but ever
I his popularity could not save the day
) Hooper was elected by a good major.
. ity.
The fusion compact was continued
7 through the 1911 legislative session
G and additional prohibition laws anC
e new election laws were enacted,
$ Senator Frazier's term expired dur
n ing this session. Patterson wa
among the candidates for his seat
e Frazier sought e-election. Neithe
S showed any appreciate strength. Tn,
= Legislature was deadlocked for weeks
with numerous candidates In the run
ming. Finally the fusionlsts centere,
on Luke Lea and he was elected
Bob Taylor Dies,
\ Bob Taylors death, in 1912 was tn
, next development His term woul,
have expired In March, 1918. Govern
g or Hooper appointed Newell Sanders
Republican national committeeman
TO the vacancy pending the 1918 leg
islative session
The fusionlsts renominated Hoop
Z er for Governor in 1912. The Demo
y Gratis had tired OF Patterson an,
g dropped him the year before. T. II
e Preston, a Chattanooga banker. an
e Benton McMillin. former Governo
:, and Congressman, sought the nomina
d ton. McMillin won and went agains
Hooper, who defeated him worse tina
he had Taylor two years before.
The fusion combination still held q
the 1918 Legislature, passing NOR
prohibition and election laws.
w. r. Webb an Independent Demo
crat head of a boys school at Bell
buckle was sent TO the Senate I
serve until March. A free for-all tigh
for the full-term Senatorship wa
\ precipitated. Chief Justice Shield
I was one OF the many candidates Hi
/ candidacy displeased some OF the IN
sion leaders. He retaliated by cast
ing Of his allegiance 10 the fusio
movement. The regular Democra,
then supported him He carrie
enough OF the Independents to wi
the election after long deadlock
Agree on Patronage.
Senator Lea fought shields cleo
tion. but after the Wilson admins
trRtion went In at Washington the
m reConciled all differences and hega
TO work in harmony in the distribute
OF Federal patronage In Tennessee
This reconciliation and other event
r turned the more vindictive fusio
N leaders headed by Major Z. r stab
D. man publisher OF The Nashville Ban
rs ner. against Senator Lea, with the r,
suit that for months there has bee
IN an almost daily editorial combat. r.
A. plete with personal spleen, carried O
q between the Lea and Stahlman pa
10 pers.
N Now that Senators Lea and Shield
have drawn the Administration
70 Washington into the Tennessee Ugh
lg there promises this year 10 be as gre.
D. political sensations In the State
iy at any time since the ten years part
H. war began,