Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1880-11-01
WILSON IN EAST TENNESSEE.

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Sun writing from Bristol, October rs,
gives a very encouraging account Of
what he has seen in travelling through
the country. There is unQuestionably
a big Wilson boom in East Tennessee,
Notwithstanding gross misrepresenta'
lions in regard to public feeling up
there. Let Wilson's friends do their
duty here and all over the state of
Tennessee, and he will be triumphant
" elected. This is now not only pos
sible, but highly probable, as Wright
is not in the race and has not been
since he got out of Wilson's way for
his own comfort and relief. The
Suns correspondent says:
This place was found to be worked
I'D to a higher pitch Of excitement
over our gubernatorial race than any
point | have yet struck in East Ten
nessee. Several speakers Of the high
tax party had delivered themselves
here, and their assertions were ban
died about by the Wright men as
sweet morsels. They had swallowed,
with a greediness hat does their in
t~elligence credit, the grand torrent Of
mendaeity flaming from the big and
little newspapers, and when our party
arrived | was cornered Immediately by
some gentlemen, supporters Of Wilson,
and told of many of the miserable
tricks resorted to by the desperate
eliouers Of the railroad dynasty to
check the overwhelming tide flowing
to Wilson. 1t won't work, though
"Old Sullivan" is aroused and will as
sert her democracy on the I'd of No
vember by a thousand majority for
Wilson. Among the methods Of
blufing here is a pretended offer OF.
$1,000 that Wright will be elected,
Just as soon as [ heard of this | sent
word that the better could get ae-
commodated. To make a sufficient
deposit in the bank here, to show good
faith, and the matter would be tele-
graphed to Nashville and met at once.
That settled the matter. Tho better
IA Wright mani went to see his uncle,
and his uncle wasn't in, and how did
you say you wanted to bet, anyhow"
And it izzled out, just as a Wilson
man said it would.
The grand boom of East Tennessee
set in to-day as MI. Wilson turned
into the homestretch toward the capt
tol again. He spoke to-day at Blount
vile to a very large crowd, and made
by far the finest effort Of the cam
paign. He was in full trim, and had
been informed that there was a des-
perate fight going Oh in Sullivan to
carry an undetermined vote, amount
ing to about five hundred. His effort
was grand, bold and captivating. And
when he had finished and gone to the
hotel more han fifty mel called and
declared themselves for him against
the world. About ten Of these were
republicans. A bombshell bursting
in their midst could not have pro-
duced half the CONSERVATION hal was
depicted in the faces Of Hawkins and
Wright men. The accession to the
Wilson ranks, which is rapidly going
on in all of these counties, are from
among the very best citizens. Men
Of influence who come square up like
men and pledge their votes, time, and
money if necessary. | see these things
with my own eyes, and | know / am not
mistaken. To his supporters every
where in Middle and West Tennessee,
the Wilson men of these mountains
say, stand %squarely up to the rack"
and denOunce as villainous misrepre-
sentation any end all reports that
changes are going on in favor of
Wright or Hawkins,
1t is not true, nor is it natural.
These people are essentially a low-tax
people, and have been painting for
just such an issue and just such a
candidate, bold, able and sound.
| have heard a number of intelligent
republicans state hat they did not,
nor could not, expect over $4,000 votes
in the state, and that would not elect.
They boldly say that they have no
hope of electing Hawkins without
almost the entire Wright vote; that
Wilson was so strong he would draw
from republican ranks all the votes
with the slightest low tax proolivities.
They base their calculations upon a
poll Of240,0O0 votes in the state.