The Morristown gazette. [volume] (Morristown, Tenn.) 1867-1920, 1884-07-23
THE TAYLOR -PEfTIBOHE MIDDLE.
COL. w. p BROWNLOW INTER
VIE WE'D.
Jonesboro Journal

- W EANs
Jonesboro Journal
With a view to ascertaining for the
public the exact cause of the trouble i'm
the Republican party of the first Con-
gressiOnal district, We call upon Mr.. w.
Il. Brownlow, who Il q member of the
National Executive Committee and who
has been from the first a pronounced
Tayler man, and asked him the follow
ing questions
"Mr Brownlow will you kindly give
your views as to the cause of the dis
ruption in the Republican party i'm your
district, and will you state why, being
an advocate of Taylor's right to clear
field in the coming Congressional race,
you attended the meeting held at Col
lego Hill which was supposed to be, at
least, in the interests of Maj. Pettibone,
and refused to affiliate with the meet
ing held in the Court House, where the
most pronounced friends of Gel. Taylor
were assembled"
To this Mr.. Brownlow made answer
"While my personal preference had
been for two years notorionsly for Col.
Taylor, did not feel il to be consistent
with my position as member OF the
National Executive Committee and the
State Executive Committee and owner
of the Herald and Tribune to advocate
publicly the claims of any one TO the
nomination"
1 attended as delegate, the Washing
ton county convention held at Jones'
boro, Monday July 9TH, and was elect
ed chairman. The convention was duly
organized and list of delegates to
the congressional convention adopted I,
when the county convention adjourned.
TO this action strong oPpos tion was
| developed and a faction, electing Col.
Shade Harris, chairman, proceeded to
| select another set of delegates. Over
lures of harmony were made to these
gentlemen and great concessions were
| offered. For a while il seemed as If
these would prevail but, after once
agreeing TO put Col. T. III. Reeves. who
had consistently refused any preference
fer nominee, and myself upon their list
of delegates, the irregClar convention
revoked that agreement and refused to
put either of us on their list. To this
arrangement. must admit, entered q
protest at the time, believing that no
action of the so-called Harris conven-
ton" could be legal.
|. Ithas, almost from time immemorlal,
been the rule in the organization of
Political conventions, be they national.
state, district ar county, for the regular,
uncontested delegations to proceed to
organize the convention to he called
to order by the proper chairman, then
electing officers, either temporary or
permanent as the circumstances render
desirable, and then, in the event of there
being contests, for a committee on Gre
dentials, appointed by the chair, TO pass
upon such contests, to report its deci-
sion to the convention and have its re-
port accepted or amended as may be,
The personality of the chairman is of
course, sunk in this Office aud, by vIrtue
of that office, he participates In the or
ganiZation of the convention, regardless
of the fact that he may he > member of
one of the delegations whose rights to
appear is contested.
When the various delegations appear
ed at JonesbOto on the 10th of July 10
was found that seven counties were
represented by uncontested delegations,
having total Of 48 votes, or majority
of the entire ballot. There were as fol-
lows, viz Johnson 6, sullivan z, UnicOi
3, Greene 12, Hamblen @, Granger z,
and Hancock 6. The contested counties
being Hawkins II. Washington IL, Car
ter 8, Cecke 8, and Claiborne 2, total 46.
The convention was called to meet in
JonesbOro, Thursday, July 10th. Some
time before IL o'clock n. m. the Taylor
men, who had been in caucus in a hall
near the Court House, marched from
that hall, broke into the Court House
through a side door, and with their
friends filled the room usually used for
political meetings. When the rest of
the delegates appeared at the main door
of the Court room. which had been lock-
ed by the sheriff in pursuance of an
agreement entered into for the purpose
of excluding all but regular delegates
and representatives of the press, they
were informed of the state of affairs
and that the room was packed with
delegates, both regular and Irregular,
and outsiders not entitled to admission.
Thereupon the chairman of the Con-
gresSiOnal Committee. COLT FL. Reeves,
acting by and with the consent of other
members of the Committee announced
that he regular convention would be
held at College Hill, since IL was i'm
possible to properly hold it in the Court
room.
Notwithstanding the fact that 35 of
the 49 delegates from the counties
represented by uncontested delegations
were present at aud participated in the
deliberations of the College Hill Conven-
ton, thus giving it the prior right tc
organization and the und doubted claim
to absolute legitimacy, the TAYLOR,
faction refused to adjourn from
the court room or to have anything to
do with the other delegates refused to
listen TO any propositions looking to-
wards organization in accordance With
long established customs and rsmaiD ed
absolutely implacable.
As | at all times desired and to the
best of my ability, endeavOr to = remote
harmony and earnestly wished to have
all matters conducted in an elderly and
regular manner, / found myS If compell-
ed TO give my support to that convention
which believed to be ae6 ng in accord.
ance with law and order. even if, by so
doing, / might lay myself open to sus-
picion as acting with tie Pettibone men
and in opposition to my previously ex-
pressed wishes and views.