Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1880-09-22

Sensible Course of ( conservative
Democrats.
Animus and Methods Ofthe High
Tax Wing.

NAbLE, 1ANNsf DbpO. 1Ji lOOO.
EDITOR LEDaER-The skirmishing
lines have had a sharp engagement
during the past week, and as the
smoke of the battle clears away we
find the conservatives have a decided
advantage. The regular democratic
executive committee called a county
convention for the 10Th, after adopt
ing extreme resolutions. This not
suiting the ''low-tax" element, a con
v%ention was called bythem for the same
day. After the conventions assem-
bled the convention appointed a com
mittee Of conference and proposed to
divide the legislative offices and place
a joint ticket out without any plat
form, but the proposition was rejected
and they both placed tickets in the
field. You may know the extremists
opened their eyes when the low
takers" confronted them with a
ticket of six solid, staunch demo-
Gratis. And we are going to
elect them too. They have already
thrown up the sponge, and | have yet
to see one who has the least shadow
ofa hope of electing their ticket. Our
trouble is with the republicans who
yesterday put out a very good ticket,
but their convention wal not at all
harmonious. If they are all whipped in
line, we are beaten. We can beat the
high tax" ticket even here in the
CITY, and in the country districts where
most Of the democratic vote is, we
will beat them four to one. Bets are
freely offered here with no takers that
we beat them in this county, and that
Wilson beats Wright in the state.
Their legislative ticket is not a strong
one, two Of them don't stand in an
attitude to advocate state credit, not
being in the habit of paying their
own debts. | don't know what inAu-
euce the American has away
from home, but here it is max
ing US votes every day. The odor Of
70 clings to it like the shirt of Mes
sus. AS one instance of how it is Civ
en- to misr representation, it has on two
~occaions here recently held
General Bate up as hav-
ing been in the legislature of
1872 and supporting the internal
improvement bill when the fact is
that General BoJe was not IN that leg
~islature at all, but in the preceding
one, where a like bill was introduced
by the house committee on internal
improvements and General Bate voted
against it every time. l have never
seen it in print, but it is a fact that
the state credit fellows had a regular
bureau organized here before the last
state convention, a clerk was hired at
a salary and a distinguished citizen
sent over the state to organize the
high tax element. He was paid a
salary too, and one who was into their
secrets told me that tLeycould get all
the money they wanted. One of the
delegates to the high tax convention
told me that the only way to carry
this election was by using more mon
ey. But our ticket made them sick
and they have even despaired of the
efficacy Of money. But this is a death
grapple with the railroads who are
determined to carry their point either
through high tax democrats or the re-
publicans. l have already heard sew
eral extremists, among thema member
of the committee on platforms in the
state convention, say that If they
found Hawkins to be stronger than
Wright, they would vote for him.
Davidson county is considered a high
tax stronghold, but watch the returns.
The conservatives are now we'll or
ganized with a strong executive com
mittee of more than forty members
who mean business.
ELECTRIC LIGHT."