The Morristown gazette. [volume] (Morristown, Tenn.) 1867-1920, 1883-05-09
coz RArE ANp I'D STA W.

GOV. BATE AM ED cha -
Evidently there are persons in
Memphis who didn't "sleep in the
leaves with His Excellency, the Gov
ernor. II is reported by telegraph
from Memphis, on the 4th, that at
a meeting Of the Democratic execu-
tive committee of Shelby county, !
held some two weeks ago, resolu-
tons were adopted protesting against
the appointment by Gov. Bate OF
Mai. Yves. Rhea rs coal oil inspec-
tor of that city. The position, by an
agreement made during the late Po-
Iitical canvass, was TO be given to
Ell. Shaw. a local colored politician,
who Joined with the Democrats and
with whose aid the ticket was elect
ed. The resolutions were signed by
members ofthe executive committee
and by members of the Legislature
from that county and forwarded to
the Governor. They protest against
any appointment which conflicts
with pledges made by leaders Of the
party in the section interested
This Ed. Shaw, to whom the To-
cal Democratic leaders at Memphis
had promised the post of oil in
spector. is the notorious saddle-col-
ored politician who has been for
years an anointed Republican leader
! in that section of the State. He 1t
was who headed the repudidtiHg
| bolt from the Republican State Con-
yention last Spring, and, by the or
binary standard of priority in pollt-
cal departures, he is entitled to the
distinction of leadership in that i'll
starred movement which resulted In
the 500 calamity and all its attend
ant misfortunes, including the nom
ination for Governor; for the bolt OF
Shaw from the Republican Conven-
ton, in May, was simply supple
mented by the June bolt of the
Democratic Convention from all the
antecedent pledges of the Demo-
cratic party. 1t is now claimed by
the Memphis Democrats that Ed.
Shaw brought at least 1920 colored
Republican voters to the support OF
the Democratic ticket in the No
vember election and thus saved the
party in the Memphis district, and
that in consideration of his faithful
performance of has part Of the con
tract. air-dealing required that the
Governor should sustain the Demo
cratic pledges 10 Shaw. Now, m
frinSicdllg. the Governor Is right IN
ignoring the bargain of any mere
local authorities Of the party, such
as is here alleged, and especially in
spurning the demands Of any such
scurvv fellow as Ed Shaw; but, un-
fortunately for His EXcellency in
this case, the coalition with Shaw, for
n consideration, was matter ofpublic
notoriety at the time and through
out the canvass. Governor Bate
spoke IN Memphis and was in full
accord with the Memphis politicians
who were responsible for the Juue
platform. IIe-was fully advised of
their campaign arrangements and
knew they were being conducted In
his interest. 1t is rather ungener-
Gus, to say the least, to attempt, at
this late day, the role Of a loftily-
virtuous Governor and to repudiate
the arrangements of his special
friends and supporters, after having
reaped, for himself all their bene-
fits. 1t is quite true that there are
many things connected with the late
canvass and recent legislation that
the Democratic party must soon
40 get away from" if it expects to
maintain its footing in the State, but
the question is, How many rounds
can Governor Bate afford to kick
out of the ladder by which he as
cended, with any hope Of again
reaching terra frmd in safety?