Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1882-08-17
LETTERS FROM THE PEOPLE.
Hon. Charles B. SfmOaton-A Misrepre.
sentati0n Exposed.
To the Editors of the Anneal.

Hon. Charles B. SfmOoton-A Misrepre
sentatiOa Exposed.
To the Editors of the Appeal:
In your issue of August 9th is a commune
cation signed "Lat" and dated Bolivar
| Tenn, August 6, 1882" which purports tC
give the congressional vote of the Ninth
district of Tennessee, for the years 1876-7S
| and 80, and of Upton county for the years
1S76-78 and 80. In 1876 the majority of
Caldwell (Democrat) over Folk (Republi-
can) was, as stated, 5000, and in 1880, that
of Simonton (Democrat) over Shackleford
| was 1885. In the communication Shackle-
| ford is styled a Republican. This is an
error. Your correspondent in his search for
| facts ought TO have discovered that Mr..
| Shsckleford was coalition candidate. He
| called himself Low-tax Greenback-Demo-
crat, supported Wilson for governor, and re-
cieved the solid Republican Endorsement.
Your correspondent says OF Mr.. Simonton: :
being new man in the Tenth district he
could not reasonably expect more popular
| ity than he enjoyed in the Ninth district,
and if he was unable to hold the party vote
where ne was 80 we'll known, how can it be
| expected that he will be most available
where he is a stranger" and, chat he could
| lose a Democratic majority of over 5000 in
| four years in the district where he is SO well
| known, how long would it take him to wipe
| out the few hundred majority in this district,
| where he is scarcely known at all? Net the
man for Galway, we think" And sgain,
"Lat" says with a great parade of apparent
sincerity, "How this state of things came
about we of the Tenth district would like TO
know, but they are figures taken from the
official returns" The purpose of the COM
munication is very poorly concealed. 1t is
intended to disparage Mr.. Simonton's can
didacy for Congress, and though it bears the
earmarks of an oyer-zealous friend OF some
nv oil candidate xuho 10 f1nxuillif,r In ricE ia
friends success upon his own merits, still it
is calculated TO give very unfair impression
of the popularity and standing OF Mr..
Simonton in the Ninth district, and l desire,
through the columns OF the APPEAL to ex-
pose the misrepresentation of what seemed
TO be a fair statement of facts and 6gures.
The majority Of Mr.. Caldwell does not, as
given, represent the true difference in the
strength of the parties. 1t is a fictitious
msjority, as can be easily seen from the fol-
lowing facts: In 1876 the full vote of the
Republican party was not cast. 1t will be
remembered that they then were greatly de-
moralized after the Waterloo defeat of 1874
resulting from the civil rights agitation.
No candidate for governor was nominated
by the Republicans, nor were there any for
the Legislature in but one or two counties in
the Ninth district, and but few in the State.
There was no Republican candidate for Con-
gress in the Ninth district until within very
short time before the election. Mr.. Folks
candidacy was not generally knewn on the
day of election. His tickets had not even
reached one county in the district and a
number OF voting precincts in the other
counties. His election went almost by de-
fault, the Republican vote not being polled
by at least oae-half. The Democratic party
was well organized, enthusiastic and conf
dent of electing both the State and national
tickets, and polied its fall vote. In 1880 the
conditions were Just the reverse. The Repub-
lcan party rallied its full strength, formed
coalitions on every hand, and was confident
OF success. The Democratic party divided
into factions, disorganized and especially
after the loss OF Indiana, without enthusiasm
or even hope, and hence the Democratic
ticket in the Ninth district (rot Mr.. Simon
ton) lest the seeming majority of 1876. This
was the result not only in the Ninth district,
but all over the State, and most of the
Union. Your correspondent desires to con-
vey the impression that the decrease of a
seeming majority was due to some uppopu-
Iarity of Mr.. Simonton. 1t will then be but
fair, and We all desire stair play" TO COM
pare his vote and loss of majority with that
of few of the ablest, most popular and
powerful Democratic leaders in the different
sections of the State. This will show that |
the same causes existed in every portion OF |
the State, and were not local. These figures !