Knoxville daily chronicle. [volume] (Knoxville, Tenn.) 1870-1882, 1880-04-20
From Jefferson County.

Mr.. EDITOR: La looking over your
report of the proceedings OF the repub.
lican convention, which met at Dam
bridge last Monday, / note several er -
rors and mistakes, and have concluded
to drop you a line on the subject.
In the first place, your reporter
stated that S 1. Newman was chair
man of the convention, when, In fact,
Jos. r. Birchfield was chairman and
Alex Eckel secretary.
In the second place, he reports that
the delegation goes unrestricted,
when, in fact, they go instructed to
cast their fret vote for DR. Lyle, and,
personally, are all for Lyle, except
one.
We had some rich experiences in
that convention, Mr.. Editor, and [
must say that 1t is surprising to Whist
com binstions and schemes some men
will resort ia order to carry their
point. The truth of the matter the
that congressman Houk came all the
way from Washington TO capture an
endorsement of himself and an in
structed delegation from this county
for himself to the congressional co.,
vention, but went away not exclalm
ing Uenj, Uidi, Uici Judge Houk,
by arrangement made on Sunday
uight, by his advance guard, took
l,s1 "A ~. u
lsoored for two solid hours to meet
the charges made against him, and
ouly succeeded in drawing few tears
from himself and admitting that he
loved his dram and envIed every dy
toat had a taste for VIII skey. He
Knew The Convention was called t.
meet a. IL o'clocB, and held the stand
uuui afer that hour, and upon hts
qaIlting tho stand, Dr. Lyle took it
nd made very shult az, closing by
laying that II was NOT necessary fae
.nIm TO make n long talk IN this, hi
native cuuu y-that ne WAS well know
aud Was wi'Il & for the CONVENTION TO
pass upon his G aims. Tails was right
ADD. the Il ar acquitted himself we'll.
But now let me tell TIE equel. TIE
oonVeuttOt Was called 30 otder by the
chairman of Tue executive comm ttee
aud r.. X. B rcht cid was Nominated
and elected chairman, without Oppusi-
ION, aud tn II some fellow, VINO did
not knuw wnat he was doing, was
either ----. OF j. fer on; or old msu
-, of SrvleI; or ---rUf Knox, o.
come democrat, aud dnn'J know
WnIch-uomiuated J. b Meek for rec
retafy; aud when the No was taken,
B -ecuer got three VOles-Jne from
kuoA and one democrat each from
s weir and Jetferso0. Well, OF course :,
ne was elected.
The republicans of Jefferson then
nominated Alex. Eckel for st crelary,
and he Was tlec1ed wi bout u dissent
ing voice, except Sam Pat eTsOn, col
ored. A committee was tbereupOn APP
poiuted To select delegates TO the varl-
GUS conventions, a correct list of which
was published in the WatcbmAn.
I regretted exceedingly, on HOuk's
account, to see the little pitiful things
which were resorted to by some of his
friends-and Dr. Lyle's enemies
(most of whom were democrats). A
man is certainly desperate when he
has 10 pack a county conven-
ton with citizens of other counties and
democrats, as was done In this case.
Your correspondent saw and heard
democrats and citizens from other
counties vote long aud loud in this
citizen of your city,
W ho occupies fat Office under the col
lector of revenue. Shame on
such conduct men ought to
have too much honor and
pride to do such things. And 1t Is the
determination of the republicans of
this county that we will never again
suffer such thing done. We believe
ia county and party rights far enough
to hereafter "a-sert, peaceably, II we
can, forcibly II we must,n our right to
run our own convention without the
aid of non-Tesideuts.- L ana glad that
the matter went off In good humor,
and will say that l AN Satisfied that
The opposition to Lyle, except demo-
Gratis and repeaters, was, mot that
they loved Lyle less but that they
loved Houk more" Judge Houk has
warm friends in this county, aud they
are gentlemen aud good republicans,
and were IL not that DR.. Lyle, who Is
very popular with republicans, is
caudi ate, am sure no Que could beat
the Judge in this county, but | can
not too strongly condemn aud repro
tate the conduct Of the gentlemen
whose conduct has b zen set out ia this
~ As 1t now stands,
hp county is for Lyle aud s, with the
delegation, excerpt, probably one.
-~T 1r JUSTICE,