Knoxville weekly chronicle. [volume] (Knoxville, Tenn.) 1870-1875, 1872-07-03
DEMOCRATS IN COUNCIL.
A secret COncIaVe.
The county 10 he Governed by II Flown
Clique.


Early in the forenoon ofyesterday, it became
noised around that a few gentlemen claiming
to represent the untcrrfed Democracy of this
county, were about TO assume an important task
that of saving tho good people Of Knox county
the trouble of selecting their county officers, us
they had expected to do at the ensuing August
election. The matter had been kept profound
secret except with the invited few, and ortho-
dox Democrats or Conservatives were noticed
tramping around town in search of the head
quarters of this self;constituted clique acting in
the capacity of guardians for the good people.
We do not know who were present,
but have no doubt that the leaders
Judge Jones out of office with view of Great
ing position for some one of their friends us
Judge of Criminal Court. They are the same
men who provided for an Attorney General for
Knox county, with view of getting rid of Col.
J. NJ Thornburgh. Although there is not ex-
cceding half dozen of these men, they act as
If they held deed in fee simple TO tho voters
of Knox county, and as if the said voters must
not think of acting contrary TO their will.
They held their meeting in the office of Capt.
John NJ Brooks, and after, exchanging notes,
and discussing the claims of various gentlemen
whom they graciOusly cOndescended TO present
TO their wards, the voters Of the county, they
agreed that for the office of sheriff. A. ). HUI
Mr. William Lewis must be dropped.
For the office of Attorney General il WAS lie
cided that the people may vote for j. 9. J. Will
lams, but they must not vote for Mr.. james
King or for Major j.. A. tIrRtz.
Dick McCAllum and J.C. Mynatt Esqrs., APP
peared before the committee of SIMON pure
Democrats humble supplants for the privilege
of being voted for for the office of tax collector
Esquire Mynatt being young man it was de-
cided that he could afford TO wait and tho peo-
Pile are Informed that they may vote for our
genial friend Dick.
Captain James Boyd seemed to be in high ia
or.in the caucus and without opposition it was
decided that he would be a proper person 10
vote for for trustee.
II was further decided that J. VI. Yarnell,
Esq, might be voted for for the Office Of County
Court Clerk. Thus in this secret conclave, from
which even Democrats who had not been pre-
viously invited were excluded a ticket ID made
up for the people toyote for. Heretofore tho
people of Knox county have made merit the
test for office-now the will of a seh-constituted
committee, app inted by q little town clique, is
the law by which voters are to be governed.
The Whites, the McCammnns the Craigs, the
Halls, the Crippens and the Barrys were select.
ed by all the people ut the ballot box, and the
fidelity with which they performed their va.
wisdom of the old time way Now We see
fen men gathered in private room in the sec.
ond story of a building, with closed doors, die
Eating 10 the people who they shall vote for for
the various cuunty offices. Here is civil SER
vice refdrm for you. Here is true Democracy.
Hero you sec something Of the denominations OF
n secret caucus system against which Virtunul
Democrats have inveighed with 30 much III
concealed hypoeriey.