Knoxville daily chronicle. [volume] (Knoxville, Tenn.) 1870-1882, 1872-07-12
THE COUNTY ELECTION.
KuOxyilie's Half Dozen the Big Ikes
0f the Contests.

The race for crunty officers grows warmer rs
the day of election draws nearer. The NUMBER
of the candidates, and especially those Oh the
political party of which the Knoxville Clique
seems to hold lease. is becoming smaller
by degrees and beautifully less. A Democrat
NAV be candidate for public honors in the
morning, but cannot tell what an hour may
bring forth" and may be unwillingly retired to
private life before evening The machine
works on regardless of the protests of its vic
tins, and heads are cutoff with little regard to
whom they belong A number of gentlemen
have been led to the stocks and decapitated,
while still others have been in custody, but arc
demonstrating against the proceeding. ET
Mr.. Lewis was first led up. He then declined
to have his aspiring head taken off, believing
his services as Sheriff were invaluable to the
county but after some refractory signs, he
meekly consented, and was gracefully borne
from the contest to dream of the honors and
emolumcnts of the sheriffalty in the future, when
Hudiburg shall have been sufficiently reward
ed for his faithful services to the party, by once
more offering defeat at the hands of Gossett.
Next came jim King and Maj Gratz. jim
head was taken off and the victim scarcely
groaned. The Major proved refractory. The
Ring thought him tough customer" per-
haps, and concluded to indefinitely postpone his
decapitatiOn.
Then came Esquire Yarnell. He was the
only candidate for County Court Clerk, repre-
senting that party but the :'Ring'' was dissatis-
fed with him. and what was to be done? 1t
was admitted that he was sound politically, but
he was not the kind of stock the ring wanted to
keep. He was meritorious himself, but could
not point to an ancestry satisfactory to
them He did not hail from one of the i. + sand
couldn't pass muster. Besides, he had COM
mitted the indiscretion of wearing coat of the
wrong color during the late unpleasantness.
Therefore it was decided that his head must
come off, and some one else take his place.
Not consenting with that willingness which Is
characteristic of loyal Democracy, his case was
taken under advisement, and the victim has
been kept in painful suspense for more than q
week. His head depends upon future develop
ments. If it is finally thought impracticable to
take him off the track, the ring will swear they
never thought of doing so.
But the ''unkindest cut of all, was cutting
off Dick McCallum's head, after he had been
fattered with the hope that he was to retain 1t
with the full appreciation and consent of the IL
lustrious half dozen. He submitted to the
operation but to say that he enjoyed it would
be wonderful departure from even the proba-
bility of truth. But he has also retired to
dream of the beauties of the lone term sys-
tenn"
In the mean time those who enjoy the favor
OF the Clique, are gong toward with It's COM
mission in their pockets, and using all the APP
planes known to the profession, to incur the
good graces of the dear people. Button. holing
may be seen at ali hours of the day and late at
night. Spiritual comfort is dispensed by the
quart or gallon. Handshaking is frequent and
cordial. Small favors are lavishably bestowed
larger ones in proportion. Prices for entertain
ment range lower, and bar room loafers swear
the millennium has dawned. Tn anticipation of
subordinate positions, eputyships-numerous
individuals are enthused, and feeling foot tall
eer than they appear. The machine run by
Knoxvile's "illustrious half Dozen works
admirably, and each one of them feels himscfa
veritable Big Ike"