The Columbia herald. [volume] (Columbia, Tenn.) 18??-1935, 1919-01-17

/ $500
/ peoples OF the earth, the other is the
indifference and the apathy with
which senate and house have witness
ed steady encroachments upon theil
powers and prerogatives.
similar state of affairs exists in
Tennessee where our system of gov
eminent is almost an exact replica OF
that of the nation. Time was when
the legislature was held to be vital
and exceedingly powerful and i'm
portal department of government
equal if not superior to the executive
The time is gone, for the present at
least. Time was when the members
of the legislature would have resented
executive interference with their con
stitutional prerogatives, when sugges
tons from the executive as to who
! they should name as their own presid
ing officers or committee chairmen or
elect to state offices, would have
created a schism between the two
branches of government that would
have torn and rent the state from
! center to circumference. 1t was but
few years ago when members of
the legislature, in complete ignorance
or indifference to the favorite of the
! nd
even days in balloting for speaker or
nominating comptroller or treasur-
err The candidate then whose chief
claim to election was the governors
favor, would have found executive
support hindrance rather than an
asset.
But those days are not now They
will be no more until the people come
to higher and more genuinely demo-
cratic appreciation of the Importance
of the legislative branch in our scheme
of governments. The fault, if fault
there be, for this change of system,
lies in the legislature itself. 1t has
long since forfeited the confidence OF
the public. It's converting is regard
ed rather as an affliction to the peo-
pie; its final adjournment as an IN
disguised blessing. It's proceedings at.
tract but little attention or interest
Nothing is expected of it and the PEG
pie are not disappointed. Little men
nominally direct its affairs. Few,
very few men of ability, and those
generally without experience, have
served in the legislatures of Tennes
see in recent years. DISTINGUISHED
and unselfish service is not conspicu-
Gus in the legislative sessions. Party
and fractional politics, machine build
ing, distribution of patronage. these
usually are upperfnost in the minds
of a majority of the legislators
1t is easy for a strong and resolute
character, clothed with the dignity,
the power, the patronage of governor
and having the confidence and esteem
of the vast majority Of his fellow citi-
zens, under such circum stances, to
become in fact the state. While the
legislative branch. has steadily de-
clined in the public appreciation the
executive has gained in public conf
dence and esteem. The people view
the office of governor with pride and
deep veneration The executive is
looked to fro whatever blessing of gov
eminent may be enjoyed. He is, in
public esteem, the veritable Moses
called to lead them from the sloughs
of political despond The people are
utterly. impatient of any show of OPP
position from the legislature to the
plans announced by the executive.
1t regards as waste of valuable time
any lengthy Legislative consideration
of any matter urged upon it by the
governor The later holds the conf
dence of the people, the legi stature
does not. This is the explanation.
If there are old time democrats,
those who view with alarm the
growing tendency toward personal
government in state and nation; who
see already lurking dangers to- threat
en- the future safety of our institutions
because of the continued elevation of
the executive and the constant sub
mergeance of the legislative functions,
they should seek the remedy, not in
futile efforts to disparage and mini
ME the executive, but in a genuine
effort to elevate the legislature, state
and national, once more to a place
where it will be secure in the conf
dence and esteem of the people.
Railing against the executive who is
doing no more than the people expect
of him will get them nowhere. The
legislative branch of government will
be trusted, it's independence restored
and constitutional functions unimpair-
ed when through it's own conduct
these things are deserved