The Columbia herald. [volume] (Columbia, Tenn.) 18??-1935, 1915-09-17
SENATOR LEAFS SPEECH.

One does not have to be partisan
Of Senator Lea to agree that his open
ing speech on last Saturday was
clearcut, direct, forceful and able pre-
sentation of his case to the people o
Tennessee. 1t was the speech of a
broad, progressive, right thinking
democrat He spoke very frankly to
the people. He made little effort at
rhetorical flourish or word painting
The speech deals mainly in facts. in
a record, that woefully misrepresent-
ed, is still fairly familiar to the peo-
pie of Tennessee, especially those stu
dents of current political events.
There was nothing bitter nor acri-
monious in the speech. No effort was
made therein to open old wounds; to
inflame old sores. However, Senator
Lea did not seek to dodge or evade
his own course In the momentous
events that have taken place in Ten
nessee politics the past ten years He
apologized for nothing. Very openly
he told the people what he had done
and why he had followed a given
course. He would take the same path
way under the same circumstances
again.
Briefly Senator LEAFS record in pol
tics for the ten years in which he has
been a factor Is as follows: He sup
ported Patterson in the latter's first
race for governor because he believed
that Patterson was sincere in his war
on machine government. When he
found that the governor was trying
to foist worst machine upon the
people than that headed by Gov. Cox,
Lea revolted and espoused the cause
of Carmack. He also declared his al
legiance to the cause Of prohibition.
After Carmack's defeat in the prima-
ry Lea aided in the election of pro,
hibition legislature and really organ
lied that body. Two years thereafter
he Joined in the great free judiciary
revolution and voted for Gov. Hooper.
Senator Lea, in common with thous-
ands of democrats, declared all the
time that he did not propose to Join
the republican party, but that as soon
as the Patterson machine was de
stroyed he would use his efforts to
harmonic the democrats upon the
right principles. This he did, but
when a liquor plank was adopted in
1912, Lea repudiated the platform and
again aided in the election of a legis- |
lature that would not repeal the tenn
perance laws.
Senator Lea continued his work at
party rehabilitation and last year I'M
der his magnificent leadership Rye
was nominated on a prohibition and /
law enforcement platform and the
party's pledges upon these issues
have been kept inviolate. This, inl
brief is LEAFS record in politics. He
conceals nothing. If the people ap-
prove this record he would have their
votes, otherwise they can vote for
else.
So far as his career in the senate is
concerned 1t has been free from criti-
,ism except for the charge that he
has been absent in Tennessee too
,ften Not only does Senator Lea de-
lend his record In the senate, but
with admirable candor he tells the
people what to expect if he is reflect
ID
The senior senator has pitched the
campaign on high plane. He has
yiven a fair and readable account OF
lis public service. He has shown
himself to be "full grown man." He
makes no plea for sympathy, but talks
Is one Independent American citizen
would talk to other sovereigns. His
opening deliverance will prove an ell
.ment of strength to him in the con
est.
It may be that Senator Lea is mark
d for slaughter The odds against
lin are great; HIS course may indeed
,e finished, but no sincere friend OF
emperance reform in Tennessee can
ay that he has not fought a good
light nor that he has not kept the {
IA L.