Clarksville weekly chronicle. (Clarksville, Tenn.) 1873-1890, 1878-07-27
The Election Next Week.

Before we again address our read
ers the county election will have
taken place, and offices will have
been filed the importance of whose
efficient administration cannot be
overestimated. These are nearly all
either judiciary or legal in their
character, or associated in one way
or other with the administration of
our law courts. Under these cir
cumstances it was not unreasonable
to hope that the canvass would be
kept secluded from the disturbing
influences of political agitation, but,
if anyone hoped for this, it is man.
ifest that he must have been griev
ously disappointed. With one ex-
ception the candidates for Chancel-
Tor and Circuit Judge have discarded
all reserve OF this sort and have not
thought it unbecoming their posi-
ton to enter upon a sort of Dutch
auction in which they have hoped
to commend themselves to the peo-
pie by undertaking one another in
reference to the State debt, under
the impression that the one who
will recommend the smallest sum
for the State creditor, the one who
will come the nearest to reputation
without saying the word outright,
will gain the popular vote. We
sincerely hope they are mistaken.
Judge Rice is the one exception.
He steadily refused to bid at the
| auction; his position from first to
last was that the State Convention
to meet next month will determine
the policy of the Democratic party
on that head, and that he expects to
adhere to the line of action they
may chalk out. Meantime, he
stands a candidate for the Bench OF
the Circuit Court, not as partisan
at all, but relying simply upon his
record while in Office. On this
record we take him, and recognizing
in him the character of faithful
and conscientious Judge, we hail
him our candidate, the more gladly
because of his dignitied abstention
from the partizan electioneering OF
the other candidates.
With regard to the Chancellorship
we have only to say that capacity
for the Office is the one criterion
which will secure our vote. OF this
we have individually no means Of
judging, but on enquiry among the
lawyers of the GAINESVILLE bar We
find that almost without exception
(nOt Quite they consider Judg;
Tarver the best qualified man fol
the Office. We regret that the
Judge made a bid in that DutcI
auction, but as all his competition
f did the same, we presume the judg
ment of the bar ought to decide the
matter; they alone have the means
of judging.
AS to the County and Crimina
Court, the canvass has not taken /;
f political turn, except in the case o
one candidate, to whom we decline
giving any further space in thu
CHRONICLE. With regard to thu
other two it is made a matter 0
record, the official acts OF the pres
ent incumbent being severely crit
cised by his competitor. So far al
we can judge from his printed circu
lars, his vindicatiOn is in our opin
, ion valid; the improvement in thu
county finances since he took charge
of them is a point in his record
which no one can gainsay. But thu
whole question has been thoroughly
ventilated and all the evidence i.
before the people which we possess
indeed more, for we have not at
tended the numerous public discus
sions which the canvass has giver
rise to. The public, therefore, mus
Judge for themselves.
We did not intend to say any
thing about the other offices, bu
cannot close without word for Mr.
/ G. d. Bailey as Circuit Court Clerk
On his merits as an officer we do no
think he would get an adverse vote
in the county, the only objection We
! have heard against him being tina
he has held the Office for a Ions
, time; with US that is a recommen
dation rather than an objection
Vote for the best man is all we have
to add.
P. SIT occurs to us that DIR
Wright is candidate for Distric
School Director. Need we say tha
F we consider his claims superior tt
those of all his competitors put to
: gether, especially as we are not, 81
far, informed that he has any.