The Pulaski citizen. [volume] (Pulaski, Tenn.) 1866-current, 1884-09-11
THE Two-Tz1RDs RULE.
Remarks Of Capt. ]. W. Newman at
the Tullahoma Convention.
Fayetteville Observer.

III abbA4A&4 40 VI S1Rbs ~ w iN6WlUdu u
: the Tullahoma Convention.
Fayetteville Observer.
: At the request of a number ot
. gentlemen who heard him, Capt
} Newman has reduced to writing
his speech at Tullahoma at the re.
cent congressional and electoral
convention. We endorse his re-
marks and hope our state, congres-
siOnal and county conventions will
hereafter adopt the majority rule
Gentlemen of the convention /:
You have heen here already three
days nominating a candidate for
congress. Within an hour the
train leaves that will carry many o.
you to your homes this evening.
Before taking the step now intend
doiug, L ask the convention the in
diligence of a few minutes time.
For five ballots for democratic elec
tor for the 9th congressional dis
trict, my talented young competi
tor, M Pillow, has received on al
average about los votes, and my
self about 80 votes; and 1 here take
| occasion to return my grateful
thanks to the counties of Bedford.
Franklin and especially my own
county of Lincoln for the solid vote
they have given me through these
five ballots. But l can no longer
ne an obstacle in the way of nomi
nation. By insisting upon the two
thirds rule l might again canse
deadlock in the convention. For
wears l have been bitter opponent
Of the two thirds rule in our state,
congressional and county conven
tiOns. In our national conventions
1t Is hrim ul of wisdom, while in our
state, congressional and county con
ventIOns it is undemocIatic and |
hrimful of nonsense and absurdity. |
1t was adopted thirty years ago in
our state and oh conventions
without thought or consideration |
and merely because of its adoption |
by the national convention. Blu |
you my ask, "why is it wise in the
one and absurd in the otherP' The |
reason is perfectly obv. Gus. In our
state and other conventions the |
d. mocratic vote is alone represent
ed that is, we allow one vote for
every hundred democratic votes in |
each county. In the national con-
vention the democratic and republi
can vote is alike represented-that
is TO say. Iowa with it's forty thous-
and republican majority there has
as large voice as Tennessee with
its forty thousand democratic ma
jOrity. Hence ten or fifteen repub-
lIcan states, which could not in the
presid' ntial election give a single
democratic electoral vote, might in
the national convention unite and
name the candidate. Therefore
justice and equity alike demand
twO-thirds majority in our national
conventions. The two-thirds rule
IN our state, congressional and
county conventions is a "relic of !
barbarism." 1t is productive of
strife, deak.locks and dark horses
nomi ees who never spent breath.
a dollar or a moments time in de
tense of our party over men full of
courage, devotion and genius, over
men who have spent lives IN defend
ing our principles. The dark horse
nominee being frequently coward
who dare not advocate his nomina-
tiOn before the people, or an old po
litical dead heat" In your con
gressional contest here for the past
three days, l have, in a quiet way
and without intending to aid or IN
jure the cause of either of the four
aspirants for the
nomination, time and again advoca
ted the abolition of your absurd
two thirds rule as the only true and
democratic method of breaking the
dead lock.
l must he true to the doctrine /
have pr ached. In Difference to
our rule have waited the result
Of five ballots. Ny talented young
friend from Marshall has received "a
small majority over me on each bal
ot. | therefore, in ohe,lience to
what conceive to be my duty, and
of the two thirds rule,
withdraw my name as candidate
or elector, and move that my wOr-
by and distinguished young com
JeCitor, Ernest Pillow, of Marshall
county, be made the nominee of
his convention as the iemocra ic
OF the 5th electoral dis t
rict of Tennessee by acclamatIOL." {
The motion was then put and +
hr. Pillow was nominated by accla- !
nation.