Crossville chronicle. [volume] (Crossville, Tenn.) 1894-current, 1921-11-16

HOPELESS TASK TO BEAT
TAYLOR, SAY DEMOCRATS
Party Leaders Openly Confess That
Situation Looks Very Bad
Now; Old Limber Idol

NOW, oio AuOl
For some time there has been NOR
or less talk relative to the election
for governor, that will be staged next
. year. While it is generally admitted
that Gov. A. A. Taylor will be a
candidate to succeed himself, there
has been much speculation as to wha,
leading democrat would oppose him
There has been talk of Railroad
Commissioner Harvey Hannah, who is
facititionsly spoken of as "The Little
Black Bull from Roane.' No longer
ago than last week the demo-
cratsof Anderson county unanimously
endorsed him as their choice for gov
ernor in the coming election.
Hon. Benton McMillin, who is now
on his way home from Guatemala,
Central America, where he has been
for some time representing the gov
ernment, has also been mentioned,
but that mention did not seem to
awaken any great amount of enthus.
iaSm.
Up to the present time these two
men have been the ones most spoken
of for the coming race on the demo-
cratic side Without doubt there pre-
walls strong feeling in democratic
circles that "Old Limber" is going to
be mighty had to beat and some OF
the most able democrats, who would
normally be glad to enter the race,
are shying from it.
In this connection it is interesting
to note what has just appeared in the
Columbia Herald on the gubernatorial
situation. The democracy of the ed
itor of the Herald-J. l. Finney-has
never been questioned, but it has nev-
er been possible to put the collar of
his party so securely on his neck that
he would not speak fearlessly, and as
everyone believes. honestly. Follow
ing is an article that recently appear
ed in the Herald:
If the democratic party is to regain
control of the State in next years
election there must be a very decided
change in the attitude of the party
leaders and democratic politicians be-
tween now and that time. At present
there is utterly lacking any will to
win on the part of the leaders. They |!
are frankly discouraged and dispirit-
ed They look on the effort to de-
feat Gov Taylor for reelection as a !
sort of forlorn hope. One democratic +
politician from over the state VINO
was in Nashville for the big reunion
frankly suggested to the writer that
it would be better for the party to
permit the gubernatorial election to
go by default. He said:
'If the democrats nominate cand-
may be, his defeat by Gov. Taylor is
certain. The adverse majority will
be so large that the democrats will
enter the contest for president two
years later hopelessly discouraged.
Therefore, should not have any
candidate against Taylor but concent-
ate our efforts on the election of
senator and to the redemption of the
hree congressional districts that we
ost last year i
That of course is an extreme at
itude, but that it exists is significant ;
After interviewing democrats from.
many sections of the state II is evil
lent that the conclusions herein stat '
ID are based upon the sentiment of
he masses. All admit that Gov. Tay--
or has grown in popularity since he {
vas elected last fall by over 4o,u...
majority Many things have contrib
tied to this. In the first place he is I
most lovable man and he has Offend
d very few even in his own PARTY. /
he democrats sought to weaken him {
y taking practically all the appoint I
nentS out of his hands. This has /
roved to be source of strength. Hav G
1g had few appointments to make
e has made few enemies. Il was
he late Isham G. Harris, for twenty
ears a senator in the congress of the
United States, who said that patron
ge was a liability and not an asset, S
ecause. every time he made an ap- b
ointment he made one migrate and S
dozen enemies" F
The governors veto of the eight e
er cent interest law is unques:;on- O
bly, the strongest card that he has Il
aged. Whatever its merits thar law II
not popular with the masses, espec- D.
lily the farmers and Tennessee IS a 5,
lral state. ii
Again the governors protest against h
e new tax law extending the term e.
Chief Commissioner Lorthan and IL
creasing his salary, whica he had hi
e good judgment to record on the a.
urnals of the ;egihlature, is big to
ement of strength to him. Whatever W
cir views of the rne:its Of the Lou D,
an tax scheme, democratic from all N