The comet. (Johnson City, Tenn.) 1884-1916, 1914-11-19

OF the StaLe on NOV. D. WHOSE repre-
sentatives he now seeks to discredit
and dominate, the fruits of his efforts
during the past four years to perman-
emily republicanize Tennessee would
have been successful.
What the article should have said
is that l was the anti-Lea candidate
for speaker of the house two years
ago when he was driving republican
band wagon drawn by candidates Sc
lected by himself. While his band
wagon now seems ALL right and his
candidates appear unobjectionable
when it is remembered that no ad-
ministration has ever survived ride
with this wonderful driver, democrats
will prefer to continue to walk if Lea
is to be the driver.
"Those of us who. were members of
the legislature of 1913 and saw this
same Senator Lea in his desperate eff
fort to destroy the party he now seeks
to lead, will be slow to enlist under
his command, and certainly not until
at least one legislature has met and
adjourned in which he has not sought
to discredit and destroy the democrat
ic party
"If we must submit to a political
boss it is only fair to ask that his
political integrity and party loyalty
shall be believed in by at least con-
siderable number of people, and his
motives be shown to be more than
personal advance ment. While have
no certificate of party fidelity from
this boss, l hold certificate of cleo
tion by the largest majority any dem
ocratic nominee has secured in my
district since this dictator first began
to betray the democratic party. That
majority was given me in spite of the
bitter attacks of republican COVER
nor, who, until recent date, was a
co-worker and co-conspirator with
| this high and mighty boss who now
seeks to drive me out of democratic
councils.
Along with thousands of other
democrats believe the overwhelming
victory for the democratic party meant
peace and happiness in the state and
peace within the party, but if this
peace and happiness is to be bought
by humbling senators and representa-
lives and making them bow down and
obey the commands of Senator Lea,
then l for one, think the price is too
great.
"If elected their presiding officer l
pledge the senators, that not only in
organization, but throughout the en-
Tire session, party bosses and politi-
cal intriguers shall have the same
standing as their corruptionists, and
the personal and political integrity
and freedom of the members shall be
guarded as jealously and sacredly as
that of the governor of the state or
the judges on the bench.
What we need in Tennessee is not
only free and untrammeled judici-
ary,' but free and Embossed legisla-
ture,' and if it takes political revo-
luton to bring this about l know of
no better time than the present to
bring it about and no greater service
which the next legislature could rem
der the state than to unhorse this
political boss who is already seeking
to control>the legislature by corrupt |
trading in public offices for the pur-
pose of appropriating the democratic
party to his own selfish ends.
L am not an anti-administration
candidate. We are all administration
democrats for Wilson and Rye, but
am anti-machine, anti-boss and anti
Lea and against any kind of bossism
and propose to use my best efforts |
in resisting any attempt from any
where or any source to deprive the /
members of the Legislature Of their
rights to properly exercise the func-
tions for which they were elected.
Under usual and ordinary circum-
stances it would give me pleasure to
support the senator from Madison
county, but the battle we are fighting
is not who shall be speaker, but the
question that concerns all members
and all democrats is, Shall the speak
er and the officials be elected by the
members of the legislature or by Sen
ator Luke Lea?
"The statement that we are fighting
Gov Rye is false and ridiculous and
was made for the sole purpose of
creating prejudice and if possible to
bring about strife and division in the
party, thing which first promoted
Senator Lea to office and his only d
hope for continued political prefer
ment.
"The ease and skill with which Sen
ator Lea has organized and dictated h
10 two fusion legislatures by trading 8
and dickering in offices encourages
him to think that he can subordinate
! democratic legislature and appropri- 1
ate it to his own selfish ambitions, (
but in this he mistakes the temper of /
In already outraged people. t
In supporting the democratic party !
ind standing faithfully by Gen Rye