The Columbia herald. [volume] (Columbia, Tenn.) 18??-1935, 1915-12-03
LET US HAVE PEACE.

end to unceasing bitterness in the dis
cussiOn of public issues. 1t is the
duty of every patriotic citizen to dc
what he can to bring about this high
ly desirable result.
For more than ten years this state
has been torn and rent with factional
strife and political warfare. Its ma
terial progress has been hindered
the discussion of problems pressing
for solution has been impeded. In
real progressive legislation this state
lags far behind many of its sisters in
this Union, And yet we have had
more politics than any state in all
America. 1t has been continuous
succession of campaigns, hard fought
and bitter.
That the people have become wea-
~ of incessant strife is shown all
toe plainly by the constantly decreas-
ing vote that is polled in our cleo
tens. Twenty years ago in presi-
dental election this state polled over
$4,000 votes. Three years ago the
az sregate vote was 100000 less. Yet
al, this time the population of the
state was increasing. This same ap-
athy and indifference, utter WEAKNESS
Of the whole thing, was eloquently
testified to in the small vote cast in
tho recent senatorial primary, which
vas some $4,000 less than that cast
in the last democratic state primary.
The voters are nauseated with the
whole miserable mess.
There Is a road that leads to peace
and concord; that if taken now, will
restore good feeling; that will heal
breaches in families and cement
anew the old party ties. The people
s0f Tennessee, the democratic voters,
have it within their power on Decem.
her Is to bring about these highly de-
sirable results.
Around the figure of NJ R. Patter-
son for ten years centers the strife
and bitterness that have characteriz-
ed politics in Tennessee. He has
been the most heartily hated and the
most intensely idolized man in the
public life Of the state. Peace and
concord through him are out of the
question. His very presence in pub
lie life brings to mind too many sad
and bitter memories, it renews too
many slumbering passions; it arous
es too much that is unfortunate and
ever to be regretted
AS the result of Patterson's ca
Teer in politics, the democratic nom
inees for the high appellate courts
were defeated for the first time in
the history Of Tennessee: a republi-
can governor was his own successor
in office, something that had not oc-
Cured since reconstruction days;
party nominations were rendered ut
terly worthless and party caucuses
became imnotent These are facts
of history that no one can deny.
There wes in the train of Patterson
an awful breed Of hate and malice
and factionalism. In this unhappy
period for Tennessee families were
divided; ties of friendship that had
lasted from the cradle were broken
and even churches felt the baneful in.
fluence of the strife all about.
Surely Tennessee has had enough
and more of this; assuredly it is time
for cessation of warfare; the hour
Is ripe for a general truce. One of
the figures prominent in the long con.
test involving reforms in govern |
mental political; changes in party
procedure and advancement in the
democratic party, was Senator Luke
AINd' ny manly iiS Nuo hClu w bC q
fire brand in politics. He too, like
Patterson, was devotedly followed
and heartily hated. In the opinion of
The Herald he was unjustly and un-
fairly assailed; others thought other
wise. He has been, by the voters of
his party, eliminated from the con-
test To that judgment this paper
yields. Now, in all candor, why not
eliminate Patterson and bring about
Mhose happy conditions that once ex-
listed in our beloved state, leaving its
people free to press on unhampered
by factional warfare, to the great des.
tiny that lies on beyond?
As the candidate to bring peace
aud harmony to a sore and distraught
people, Kenneth d. Mcclellan is the
ideal democrat No democrat has
ever said in this presence that his
opposition to Mcclellan was such that
She could not accord him support as
The party standard bearer The same
thing cannot be said for Patterson.
McKellar's private life has been
clean. Through his own efforts,