Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1880-09-11
CROCKETT COUNTY.
Pen Pictures of the GubsrnatOrial
Candidates.
The Appearance, Manners and Methods
Of Wilson and Wright.
The Peoples Candidate Still on
a Rising Wave.
Special Correspondence PUBLIC LEDGER.l
ALAMO, CROCKETT Co., TENN. !
September 8, 1880. (

The debate opened to-day at noon
in the court house, fine brick build
ing, built in 1874, at a cost of $4,000.
The building is a credit to the county
and one might say to West Tennessee.
One thing is certain, Crockett county
is far ahead Of Shelby in that regard.
The crowd numbered about 1000, and
as the vote is about 2400, all the vot-
ers were present except 400. Both
candidates are looking better for their
change from the dirty railway and
cross roads hotels, to shady country
roads and toothsome country fare, and
now that both are in good condition
to have their photographs taken, it
might not be bad idea to give a pen
picture of them before entering into
the details of the last debate.
Judge Wright is hale, hearty and
the picture of good health.
He is about flty-two years of
age and weighs about 250 pounds. His
hair is brown, and clusters in close
short curls around his head. With
short, thick neck, double chin, full,
round, smooth. .shaven face and short,
thick body, he is a very good illustra-
tien of the high tax element.
Mr.. Wilson stands six feet in his
stockings, is slender in build, with dark
hair, eyes and beard, and is about
thirty-six years old. His manner is
in conversation gentle and pleasing,
his bearing dignifed and at all times
gentlemanly. Judge Wright has ex-
pressed Mr.. Wilson's manner in de-
bate as deeply earnest and could
not have found a better phrase. He
seems at times inspired. Mr.. Wilson
was married only about two days be-
fore the opening of the joint canvass,
the ceremony being precipitated by
that agreement. This circumstance is
made the base of 4 great many anec'
dotes at the expense Of the younger
candidate.
Crockett county was made up from
Haywood, Dyer, Madison and Glib.
son counties, and each one ol
the four parts votes with the
county from which it was taken, and
will not vote as a county until the
census returns ara all in. Alamo
votes with Haywood.
In an interview with Mr.. W. F
PostOn, republican member Of the
legislature, this morning, he said tha
all the county needed to make thu
democratic element solid for Wilson
was an active canvass. When asked
how the republicans would vote, b,
said that they could not consistently
vote for any man not in favor Of pay
ing the Brownlow bonds and this il
the prevailing sentiment.
In the debate to-day Judge Wrigh
stated that once Lee Head introduces
bill advocating the payment of sew
enty-fve cents on the dollar of tn
state debt, and that Mr.. Head tol,
him Mr.. Wilson wrote an editorial il
his own paper denORnciug him as
repudiator This Mr.. Wilson depie,
emphatieally and challenged Judg
Wright to produce the proof, whicl
he failed to do.
l have alluded to the point attempt
ed to be made on the dog tax, bu
Mr.. Wilson answered more fully to
day, that every member Of the legis
lature but four voted with him ther
In reference to the $lSO,00O whic
the railroads had paid in taxes, h
| said that in view of the fact that tn
railroads had agreed to surrende
their charters Of exemption fror
taxes, he had voted for a bill to re
fund what was uulawfully collected
and every member Of the oonventio
: but six voted with him. Taking u
the line of his argument, he asked
somebody would tell him what d.
: mOcracy was.
Eyes; l know" responded an ol
farmer to his left,
"Well, is it the right of the peopI
. to contrOl?'
Eyes, by Cd, Il isl" exclaime
the old fellow, calling forth the wilC
est cheers from the crowd.
lie continued, that the delegates
D twenty odd counties of the stat
n went to the convention instructed
II make no provision for the settlemel
of the state debt, until that plapk
the platform was first submitted to IL
:, people, and that the convention form
g cd a platform in the teeth of Il
wishes of the people, concluding
n asking if their action was binding upc
l. the democratic party, whose doctril
is that the people must control. tt
y tendency of the conventions has gol
70 s so far as to steal the presidency Of Il
:. United States, and is now trying
i; install its candidate and not the pc
il, pies candidate in the gubernatori
chair of Tennessee. In ansW