Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1880-08-13
The Situation i'm Tennessee.

TIE state debt question has divided the DEM
ocratic party of Tennessee In spite Of all the
enoltS made TO prevent such result In the
s'a'e convention which assembled Tuesday In
nashville, The conflict between the state credit
''irg nd the low-tax men, OF repudlationists.
'7Ss oren6d In the selection OF temporary chair.
Ian. The vote showed that the state credit
lth had three-fourths Of the convention and
ley preceded TO organize, so as to give force
q eject TO their principles. The platform
ported bJ the majority Of the committee de-
area uLeQUvocally In favor OF maintaining
ate cfCCit, and denounced Reputation IN all
- forms. This was adopted over the minor
lily repOTt-Suenitted by the repudiation
fsfS-by about q three-fOurhs vote. and
then the split occurred. The lOw-tax men With
Drew, and nominated candidate for governor
VINO Is IN accord with their ideas. The regular
convention nominated an uncompromiSfng state
creot nan, throwing overheard the present
governor, Marks, because Of his sympathy with
the repudationists The invariable custom OF
the party has been to give governor two sue
cessive terms. but the bulk OF the democracy
preferred 10 violate precedent rather than en-
dorse Marks. It Is too early yet to foreSee what
enect this split In the democracy viii have upon
Inc politics OF the state. Should the boiling
democrats be able TO make coalition with
the republicans and greenbackers a state
ticket thus formed might win, though
The chances, even then, would hardly be
liz its favor. 1t is very doubtful If these
Shree clements OF opposition TO the reg
ular democracy can succeed 10 uniting their
xOrceS. There IS TOO much diversity OF senti-
ment, TO be crystalZed even By the hope or
prospect OF winning the election. The re-
publicans have declared In favor OF state
Credit and their candidate for governor
Is man OF that stripe. Therefore
should the republicans make any sort
of combination with the avowed reputation
lists 1t would undoubtedly drive thousands from
their party to the support OF the regular demo-
cratic ticket. The greenbackerS would unite
with anybody for q chance at q few offices, but
they are too few II numbers to either help or
hinder III the cany ass. The organization was
never very strong n the state except In some
localities, and what there was OF 1t has nearly
fallen to pieces 1t is pretty safe to con-
clude that there viii not be any combi-
nation OF forces in opposition to the regular
democratic ticket. Even II the republicans were
willing TO join with the low-taX democrats, they
could not afford to withdraw their state ticket
Tor the sake OF the support Of faction 50 small
as the repudiationists. The loW-tax democrats
cannot consistently support the republican
ticket as it stands. because the nominees are
as firm In favor Of state credit as the democrats
1nuS, the opponents or tue democrats WILL
probably. be divided and that will assure the
success OF the latter. In regard to the national
ticket the bolt will not have any effect. Both
wings OF the democracy will support
II ncock, and that will give him the
electoral vote OF the state by the usual
large majority. The split In the democratic
party Will undoubtedly be felt In many
counties. and IL may change the representation
In several congressional districts. In localities
where the low-tax men are strongest, they will
no doubt run local tickets, but In spite OF this
The next legislature will, In all probability, be
democratic. The present congressman have
nearly all been Fenominated, and as they have
endeayored TO steer clear Of the debt question,
they may succeed in getting the votes OF both
factions; but as the fight between credit and re-
pudiation grows more bitter, It may result In
sending independent or republican congress
men from the several clOSp dtstrIarS