Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1882-02-17
THE SITUATION ATENREssEE
Status Of Men, Parties and Fac
tlOns.
The Coming Struggle and Flee.
tiOn.

from Nashville to the New Yor.
Herald before the decision on tn
1908 was rendered, thus set forth tn
situation in the concluding part OF hi
letter. 1t will repay perusal:
THE JOINING ELECTION.
In any event its political aspect
cannot be overlooked. The next fal
election will be for Governor ant
other State officers, Congressman anC
Legislature. With this disturbing ele
ment at work fermenting in the Dem
ocratic party there is some ground fol
the Republicans to pluck up hope anC
make a bold strike to capture the
State. The Democrats have beer
split for a couple of years-high anG
low tax men having separate State
committees and running rival organi'
cations. If the split continues there
is reason to believe the Republican,
can drive the wedge inserted by Haw-
kins' election still further, provided
their own wedge is not split by a
smaller one. 1t is needless to state
that the sentiment Of the business
community is overwhelmingly against
disturbing the 1908 settlement, il
for no other reason because it is a set
Element. This includes an influential,
and, of course, respectable element Of
the Democratic party. But on the
other side is the rank and file, with a
feeling against its high toned"
In Analysing the credit fac.
ton the absence of a leader capable Of
it INLAND at this crisis is pain
fully evident. Ex- Governor j. Q.
Brown, who would perhaps have been
proved equal to the emergency, is out
Of politics and in railroad bust
ness at st. Louis. Major O'Con-
nor, the Tennessee member
of the National Democratic Commit.
tee, is said to be willing to take the
responsibility. He is conceded to be
a shrewd and able manager, but his
success in the role of a candidate is
problematical The low tax faction
have good timber and some men Of
respectable standing to choose from.
1t is worthy of notice that they have
decided strength in the southwestern
part of the State radiating from Mem
phis. Judge Sneed, of that city, who
is reaching out after the leadership of
the 50.4 faction, is a man of recog-
nized ability. His chief opponent is
ex- Governor A. S. Marks, whose po-
in the party has always been in
the front rank. Marks was laid on
the shelf a year or two ago, and is
anxious to get back into public life.
This clashing of rival ambitions is
preventing the wedding of the 30 As
into as solid a faction as would other
wise be the case. Yet as it is all the
floating and uncertain elements-the
greenbackers and emi-independents-
drifting to the low tax banner.
1t must not be supposed that the low
tax faction is made up altogether Of
repudiationists or even those in favor
Of the 50.4 settlement. In general
the Tennessee Democrat is perhaps
to get out Of paying the debt.
But the manner in which the Funding
act was forced through the Legisla-
lure and the reception any criticism of
i met has intensified the opposition.
The basis in many cases seems to be
5he feeling that the manner of settle
ment should be submitted to the peo-
pie either directly or as an issue in
The election Of the Legislature. With
feeling to ground their movement
IN the low tax leaders can keep up the
in the face of an adverse
decision by the court. Seemingly
they have the majority of the party
1t their back, and their invitation to
the State credit Democrats to come
over and keep the State out of Re-
publican control is not, from a party
standpoint, unreasonable.
POSSIBLE DEALS.
A possible outcome of the situation
IS the support Of the Republican can
by the State credit Democrats.
it is barely possible. Individu.
ally some of the extreme credit men
support a Republican candi
date, but it would take a strong i'm.
polling force to laud a considerable
element of them in the Republican
There have been numerous
somersaults on the debt question, in
which it is yet doubtful whether the
aerobats landed on their heads or feet.
There will be more of them in the fu
ture before the situation crystalizes
and it is settled whether the Demo
cratic lines will be formed singly or
doubly. 1t is Of Importance enough
to claim the attention of the Demo.
cratic leaders at Washington. One
pointer which might be considered
favorable to united action was the
election of Howell Jackson to the
Senate when Horace Maynard had al
most plucked the plume. The immi-
nence Of Republican success brought
the low tax men to the support. Ii
would seem proper for the State credit
faction to march to the music Of 80 4
this time. But they claim to have
rockbound convictions about paying
public rs we'll as private debts.
This split among the Democrats is
naturally watched with interest by The
Republicans. 1t is full of promise IA
them. The 1903 has become a partJ
measure championed on Republican
legislation and. the 5O.4 ele.
ment in the party isn't stront
enough to put the organization t.
trouble explaining where it stands
Judge Harrison, Chairman of III,
Republican State Committee. framed
the Funding Act, and his party ha.
no reason to disown it. Force Of cir
~cumstances, rather than an intens,
love for the honor of Tennessee. ha,
placed the Republicans of the Stat,
| in q nOuifion diraot1,, H.