The home journal. (Winchester, Tenn.) 1858-188?, 1884-07-16
A CARD FROM CAPT. w. p.
TOLLEY.
To the Democracy Of the Fifth Congress
sional District:

To the Democracy Of the Fifth Congress
sional District:
The convention for the nomination of
a candidate for Congress having been
called, prematnrcly, as | conceive, |
deem it proper to make known to YOU
the attitude have thus far occupied in
this canvass. At the outset began Ia
agltate the matter Of joint discussion
50 that the people might know the views
OF The candidates on the important is.
sues before the country and have tbc
benefit Of the light that might be shed
ny such discussion on those issue.. |
also made known my opposition to m
earl y convention. To this end | wrote
to each Of the candidates at home
naming time aud place for meeting. to
arrange n programme for the canvass,
said programme 10 be submitted to Mr..
Warner at Washington Failing in
this, l made another effort to bring
about Il joint discussion. | published Il
card announcing an appointment to
speak at Manchester the LIST Monday in
this month, in which | invited the can.
dldatcs to Il division Of time, and again
there WAS no meeting Of the candidates,
though there was Il good turnout of the
people.
1t does seem there was studied pur.
pose in all this. This does not apply to
AIR. Warner, who was still detained in
Washington, nor to Major Lands, who
was known. to fivora joint discussion and
poslponunent of the convention to the
usual time. Mr.. Alcxander's views
we're not known.
Bnt this call for the convention 80
early ~ the l2ih Of next month pre-.
vents the possibility Of n joint canvass,
especially in view Of the UNUSUALLY late
and busy season among farmers. II is
dfficuIt To conceive Of anything like
public reason for this early
call. 1t is not known to what cxtai, ifI
any, the wishes Of candidates influenced
the committee.
1t Il known two Of the candidates IA.
rored M curly convention and were on.
posed 10 joint canvass. There has
never been 80 early call for conven.
ton in this district since 1870. WHY
his haste nowY Why not II Joint can.
'ass, as has been the universal rule in
ms district heretofore when tkeie were
opposing candidates? Is there about to
30 instituted Il new rule in the politics
If this country? Has il come 10 the
,olnt that the manipulation of convcn.
IONS is to be the rule among politicians
ather than the development oia IeaIlhy
public sentiment that should control
uch matters?
However muck | disapprove this
manifest unfairness, uniarncss toward
he people as well us some OF the cand.
ates, PARTICULAR those of us who pro.
'oSed to re y alone upon II fair cxprcs-
ion Of the will OF the people rather than
he artfuI tricks Of the politician. shall
nbmlt to it all and even more, and 90
eiorc the convention, trusting that the
eoplc will rcbuke this action. 1t is Il
natter Of more concern to them than il
an possibly be to me. Unless more
alrness is observed in conventions the
esalt will be that all respect among the
'eopie for party organization will be
The purpose Of this statement is that
may be known that am in no wise
for whatever unfairncss or
Injustice may have been done any of
he parties concerned.
AIN respectfully &c,
WIN. p. T'LIlY.
July II, 1884