Carthage courier. (Carthage, Tenn.) 1913-current, 1919-01-02
PEOPLE BEHIND
NEW GOVERNOR
Standing For Definite Idea
He Was Elected by Over
whelming Majority.

"The advent of December" remark
ed the venerable Democrat with anti
quated views, brings us within one
month of the meeting of the general
assembly. The first thing on the pro-
gram when the members arrive will
be that of selecting a speaker of the
senate and presiding officer for the
house. This will be done in caucus,
and look for a spirited contest. 1t
is understood that the administration
Is favoring no particular candidates
for these important positions beyond
the hope that the speakers Of the two
houses will be friendly to the eexecu-
tive, to which there can be no objec-
ton, as without the loyal cooperation
of the principal committees any gov
ernor would be embarrassed, to say
the least Of it, in carrying out his
ideas of state government. The legis-
lature is overwhelmingly Democratic,
and, as far as can be learned, the
members are not disposed to do any
thing that would tend in any way to
thwart the governor in his policies.
That is their attitude now, and moth
ing is in sight at the present time to
indicate any probable happening that
would tend to disrupt these pleasant
relations.
Judge Roberts was elected govern
or by the Democratic voters of the
state not only because he is himself a
Democrat without guile, but also be-
cause he stands for definite idea, an
idea that appeals with the utmost
force to a majority of the taxpayers
of Tennessee. Nobody can misunder-
stand the attitude of Judge Roberts
toward all questions touching the pub
lie welfare, and he will enter upon the
discharge of the responsible duties of
his high Office with the determination
to fight for the things he stands for.
Judge Roberts will. become govern
or in January. Having gathered to-
gether a mass of details concerning
the operations of the various depart
ments of the commonwealth, along
with much other valuable data having
direct and indirect bearing on the af-
fairs of Tennessee, he is putting in a
full days work every day in his Office
in the Doctors building getting things
in comprehensive shape for presenta-
ton to the general assembly in his
first message to that body. He has
well-defined ideas as to what he means
to do and is overlooking no detail,
however small, that will in any way
aid him in taking an intelligent hold
of the affairs of state, once he has
taken his seat as the chief executive
of his people. Judge Roberts is look
ing forward with confidence to the
loyal support of the general assembly
in all his undertakings for the better
ment of commonwealth conditions, and
it may be said in passing, that any
disappointment that may come to him
in this regard will operate as a dis
tinct disappointment to the great body
of the people of the state, for, having
from the stump and through the press
made the taxpayers of Tennessee IA
miliar with his purpose and policies,
so that no one would be able to sus-
tain the criticism of lack of con-
spicuity, he was elected by one of the
largest majorities ever given a can
didate for governor in Tennessee. This
result clearly indicated the temper of
the people, and it is believed therefore
that they will not be in any mood to
approve of any effort to throw STUN
bling blocks in his path. If anything
like this is done there are those who
believe that the new governor would