The Columbia herald. [volume] (Columbia, Tenn.) 18??-1935, 1914-04-17

penses patronage or wears the doubt
full honors of Office, TIE Herald has
both the independence ana the integ-
rity to look matters squarely in the
face; to tell the truth as it sees it.
Earnestly desiring democratic re-
Mobilization, regeneration and sue
cess, we are frank to confess that the
prospects for the realization of our
hopes are not alluring. The division
in the democratic party is real; the
hatred of faction for faction is genu-
inc.
There was chance, a year ago
when the regulars" achieved con-
troll of the legislature in both branch
es, for a regeneration Of the party,
but drunk with power, incompetent"
for government, more concerned
about punishment of the Independents
than for the welfare of the state, the
organization pursued policy that
was at once an insult to former party
associates and challenge to good
government. Had the regulars used
their new found power, theirs only by
the treachery of the devoted friends
of good government" in the interest
of all the people we might now have
peace in Tennessee and harmony and
in, 1nnoncrotin ri
But they took a different course,
one fatal alike to party unity and to
democratic hopes. Now they have,
the majority of them, seen the erlor
of their way. They have come to an
eleventh hour realization of the mis-
fortunes that their policy of hate and
prescription would inevitably lead to.
They would now by fair promises and
by confession of sins undo the things
done in the hour of passion and hate,
But we fear it is too late.
Suppose that the regulars" should
at their May convention adopt the
platform suggested by the state COM
mittee, as we believe they will, and
name as a candidate one of the dem
ocratic veterans in the cause of tenn
perance and good government, would
it insure the defeat Of Hooper? We
doubt it. Much as we desire that
these things be done, we cannot blind
ourselves to the difficulties in the
way.
The candidate and platform above
described would bring to their sup
port thousands of independents who
have no wish to become perpetual
annex of the republican party; who
are democrats from principle, but
who have been forced to support
republican because of the unworthi-
ness of their own household. But we
would not get all of the independents,
not by long jump. There are thous-
ands of Independents who will vote
for Hooper, no matter who the oppos-
ing candidate may be. There is no
use in discounting the personal fol
lowing of the governor. Again the
governor has appointed quite horde
of independents to Office, and as a
rule, they are not without influence
in their homes. Their official tenure
depending upon the success of the
appointing power they will do all |
that they can to hold the indie
pendents in line for Hooper.
Again, the platform and candidate
above suggested, would not bring to
their support anything like all of the
regular" democrats Of Tennessee.
Many are mad; they would much
prefer the success of Hooper to the
election of an independent democrat,
the truth of our observa-
ton that as between hostile factions
Of the same party, there are those on
both sides who would much prefer a
republican to a democrat. With the
republicans united, and aggressive,
browsing on pastures green that be-
come increasingly more alluring to
them, it requires no seer to foresee
the result in an unequal contest with
a divided democracy.