The Columbia herald. [volume] (Columbia, Tenn.) 18??-1935, 1914-09-25
HOOPER'S SPEECH,

HOoPER'S SPEECH.
1t is unnecessary to say that Gov.
Hooper made a strong presentation of
the issues of the campaign in his
opening address at Memphis. The
governor is a man of force. He is
virile and can write a strong state
ment at any time. He is ready of
speech and can make just about as
good argument for his side of ques-
ton as any man in the public life of
the state today.
Aside from a display of bad tenn
per and little too much of the spirit
of the boaster, Hooper's speech is a
remarkably able campaign document
The governors spirit is bit ruf1ed;
evidently he is not entering upon the
contest any too sanguine of the re-
suit. He shows this in his unwar-
ranted attack upon Senator Lea, and
his effort to make it appear that Rye
Is simply the candidate of Lea, a ma
chine and boss made nominee. The
governor evidently intends to make
Lea the issue. We doubt very much
If this will make him any votes. The
people of Tennessee are too intelli-
gent to be gulled by such cheap DEM
agogery.
1t comes with poor grace from the
governor to attack his opponent as
the creature of any man or machine.
The governor should not forget that
in 1910 he was discovered, chaperon-
ed and nominated by the Sanders re-
publican machine based upon federal
patronage. Had it not been for the
fact that the Sanders-Evans machine
completely dominated the republican
party four years ago and dictated the
nomination for governor Hooper
would not today be the governor of
Tennessee. When the republican con-
vention met at Nashville not half a
dozen counties in the state had ever
mentioned Hooper. On the contrary
most of the Middle Tennessee coun-
ties were for Overall. Hooper was
not known in West Tennessee. Very
few people outside of his own Sec
ton had ever heard of him. He was
in no sense popular choice. Gen.
Rye was known to ten people before
the democratic convention met this
year where Hooper was known to one
when the republican convention as
sembled four years ago. 1t does not,
in the light of these facts, lie in the
mouth of Hooper to complain about
the manner of Rye's nomination.
We make these statements in no
spirit of criticism of the governor.
He has made good. His discovery
did credit, as subsequent events prov
ed, to his discoveries and sponsors.
And the same may be true of Rye.
Anyway the governor should take a
much more charitable view of ma
chimes and bosses even admitting
that Rye is the creature of Lea. We
do not believe that this manner OF
campaign is going to help the COVER
nor with the thinking people of Ten
nessee.
Hooper has made a good governor;
his administration, in spite of many
difficulties, has been a creditable one.
He has much good, legitimate cam
paign thunder for use in the cam
paign. 1t will not be necessary for
him to resort to clap trap and cheap
balderdash in order to make strong
speech to the whole people. There is
much in his official record to appeal
favorably to the voters. Naturally
in Middle and West Tennessee he will
pose very strongly as a fusion candi-
date, but he cannot avoid the fact that
upon the temperance question there
is now no issue between the two great
political parties of Tennessee Hoop
er is the candidate of the republican
party; Rye is the candidate Of the
democratic party. II the majority of |
the people Of Tennessee prefer that |
the republican candidate should con-
tinue in Office for a third term Hoop |
er will be elected. If on the other
hand a majority are convinced that |
the democratic party is entitled to |
its confidence Rye will be the next |
governor.