The Columbia herald. [volume] (Columbia, Tenn.) 18??-1935, 1915-11-12
PATrERsoN's PLEA.


Thursday he said nothing that would
appeal for the votes either of those
who have in the past opposed him OF
those who have followed him. He
gave no real reasons why he should
be elected to the senate. He failed
absolutely to advance any argument
| to show that his presence again as a
factor in the politics of the state
would allay factionalism, promote
democratic harmony or advance any
interest dear to the people. His for
mer opponents in Maury county,
those who have battled long and hard
for the great reforms achieved in
government, winning victory over
the earnest and consistent opposition
of Patterson at every stage of the bat
tie have now no cause to join his
standard simply because he confess
es, after he lost the battle, that he
was wrong Why should they turn
to Patterson, their arch enemy, the
man who made them pay a
stupendous price for their victo-
ry and reward him? Not single
reason for so doing was advanced or
attempted by Patterson. In fact he
could not give any. His former op-
ponents in this county in large num-
bers heard him patiently. They are
not inclined, however, they may be in
other sections of Tennessee, to crown
him with all the honors.
His former friends in the county,
men who have followed him in the
past, came to hear him. A majority
of them supported him in past cam
paigns doubtless because they believ-
ed in what he advocated. Many old
line democrats in this and other coun-
ties we're brought up on doctrines
of local option, local self government
and opposition to "sumptuary legis-
lation." They held that arbitrary
prohibition was undemocratic not to
say unconstitutional and they follow
ed Patterson. OF course many were
attracted by other issues, by local
alignments, by hostility to men on
the other side and the eloquence of
Patterson. 1t is natural that the lat |
ter should continue to follow him,
but what reason can be given for the
sincere local optionists now to vote !
for the leader who deserted them |
after they had been whipped?
1t is true a majority of the sincere |
local optionists will follow Patterson
in this contest in Maury county, but |
they are probably doing it in spite of
his alleged change" they are not as
as they were in the old
days. Some of them have baked
they are not enamored of the other
but they frankly express
the belief that Patterson's espousal
of prohibition after it had succeeded
in becoming the established policy of
the state and his announcement as
candidate shortly afterward are two
events to be taken together and hold
a sinister significance.
No prohibitionist in Tennessee is
under any sort of obligation to Patter-
son. He did all within his power to
defeat them. Every victory achieved
was over his PROSTATE form. Not un-
til victory had crowned the efforts
of the prohibition advocates did he
surrender. CORVALLIS surrendered
to Washington at Yorktown after a
gallant defense, but no one ever ever
suggested that the British command
er should have any reward from the
new republic. Assuredly the sincere
local optionist can feel no obligation
to support Patterson. His success is
not necessary to the achievement of
any reform in government or the es-
Of any policy.
TELL THE TRtITH