The Pulaski citizen. [volume] (Pulaski, Tenn.) 1866-current, 1882-05-11


WHITE and BLACK discovered
standing on opposite sides OF a
small, black, wcll-shayed mule.
Black-You were at the conven-
ton yesterday. Tell me what was
done. Who got the nomination and
what is the prospect?
Witches, l was at the conven-
ton. We renominated Hawkins
think the prospect slim-very
slim.
Black-TeIl me all about it.
hite-Well, We ali mctat Nash
vile and had free interchange of
opinions with regard TO the nomi-
nation and affairs Of the party. 1t
was soon ascertained that a large
majority of the delegates were
against Hawkins; but no one else
wanted the nomination and all we
could do was to renominate him.
When we found that no other man
would accept we concluded to nom
mate by reclamation and be very
! harmonious.
Black-Do you say no other man
in the party would take the nomi-
ination?
White-I do. We met in eau
Gus at the Maxwell House and APP
pointed a committee to hunt up Il
candidate for governor. was on
that committee. We offered the
nomination to Horace Maynsrd.
He shook his head, then pulled
down the under lid of his right eye
very low, and emphatically, said:
No" We offered it to Houk. He
said previous engagements would
prevent his acceptance. We tried
Rule. He said he would do any
thing he could for the party, but
could not accept under the circum-
stances. We then offered it to
Judge Butler and various other
East Tennessee politicians, all of
whom declined. This is a remark
able fact, the first time in the his
tory of the state that all East Ten
nessee declined candidacy for of
fee. Having failed to secure a can
didate in East Tennessee, we tried
Middle Tennessee. We first called
on Judge Hughes. He said that
under ordinary circumstances he
would gladly accept it, but in view
of the present political outlook and
of his private interests he must de
cline. We next saw Judge Harri-
son. He asked us what we took
him for, and said: NO" Frank
Reed said: "a bird in the hand.
is worth two in the thorn bush
L would rather be judge than be 4
candidate for governor" We went
on requesting various other gentle
men to accept the. nomination, all of
whom declined. Having inter
viewed all the white politicians in
the party, we concluded to try the
cOlOred man. Giles county being
prolific Of governors, we hunted up
Dick Harris and offered him the
nomination. He thanked us very
graciously and said: Gentlemen,
L regret to say that it is impossible
for me to accept. am largely inter
ested in cotton futures, also in
spots | cannot make the sac
rafice." We then saw B. A. j.
Nixon and offered it to him. He
said: mo; 1 am professor of an
cient and modern languages, and of
belles-lettres in the the Pulaski In
stitute. Teaching is my chosen
profession. l cannot accept" We
then offered it to Squire Yardley Of
Knoxville He said: II once led
the forlorn hope for governor. L
suffered for the party through one
canvass. I think that is enough
for me. They must hunt another
martyr for this canvass" We then
turned to Ed. Shaw, colored, of
Memphis. He said; "Gentlemen,
if YOU will allow me to make the
canvass on the Memphis resolutions
l will accept and can be elected. l
am sure l am the strongest man in
the party, if you will allow me to
formulate my own platform. But if
you want me to endorse Hawkins
and run on the bond holders plat
form drawn up in New York, then !
| decline and say; damn the party
Fact is, stand very well with the
low-taX men at Memphis. anyhow. !
l can do better with them than
in the republican party. | decline
You see Hawkins was our only |
chance. He wanted it, no one else
would have it, and as he had got |
the office, by accident, and had
made some money out Of it for
'his sisters and his cousins and his
also for his son and his
brother and his friends, and would
do so again if elected, we concluded
to let him ''go ill.," We waited on
him and told him that the party
was solidly for him; that we wanted
him as our "standard-beaTer.' He
replied with much pathos and elo-
quence as follows: Il say without
exaggeration that this is the proud
est moment of my life. For the
sake of myself, my son and my
brothers, my family and friends,
and for the sake Of the salaries
which we all may accidentally
draw, / accept. l do
This occurred in the Mushroom
IF the Maxwell House. 1t was a
very affecting scene. The governor
seemed too full for utterance. Doc
or Hawkins, the able commission
sr of agriculture, &c, was also deep
v affected. He said: Brother
Alvin, the brilliant success of your
which will result in
your denomination is largely due to
nv iudicious and skillful manage /
nent of the Bureau of Agriculture,
Statistics, Mines, Bugology, etc {
lust here he grasped the hand Of
he gov'nor. Ernest. Hawkins,a very
promising young man, the son of !
lis father, which is the governor >,
,roke in as follows: yes, and i
lave also done a great deal to o
trengthen the administration by :
nv vigorous administration of the
,ffice of adjutant general and pri .
ate secretary. just ut this point 7
II three of them embraced and had
family hug. The governor then
ent for his cousin, Rev. William J
)oak, State Superintendent OF Ed