Clarksville weekly chronicle. (Clarksville, Tenn.) 1873-1890, 1885-09-12
rnanS. 5000 ~ ADvAvoE.
TwocoNyENrIoNs.

TWO CONVENTIONS.
The GAINESVILLE Chronicle purport,
to give list of the Tennessee papers
opposed to one convention for the
nomination OF candidates for the Su
preme Bench and Governor, and in
favor OF two conventions. one to nomi
nate a candidate for Governor, and one
tonomiDate candidates for the Suprem,
Bench. In this list the Columbia Her
aid is mentioned. We desire to say
that the Columbia Herald has pro
nounced neither for one or two con
ventions as yet, whatever its views may
be, and that assigning il this place II
this list is a mistake. To us il seem,
the entire discussion OF the conven
ton question is premature, and out o
season, and If it is to go on, ad nause
am, until the convention or conven
tions meet, the people will be sick o
the entire question, and willing to de
without conventions. About the
strongest argument in favor of two
conventions is antiquity and precedent
and it has its weight, although it is no
know is why two conventions are bet
ter than one, or one better than two
In other words, why we started the
two convention system In this we
seek for information and not for the
purpose OF wrangle.-CO'uns5iG Her
aid.
The CHRONICLES list was published
three weeks ago. 1t was Immediately
copied into some of the leading Ten
nessee dailies and has subsequently
been reprinted in numerous weekly
papers throughout the State. There
were forty papers in the list given by
the CHRONICLE and the assertion made
was that ace belieUed they all favored
two conventions. Only one paper, the
Maury Democrat, has denied the cor
rectness of the supposition. The Co
lumbia HaTald, which we quote above
says it has not made up its mind. The
Springfield Record, which we put
down othe other side. has since de.
clared itself in favor of two conven-
tons and several other papers that we
didn't mention mt all, have come out
that way.
We challenge the Nashville Ameri-
can, or any other journal, to mike
complete and correct lists of the pa
pers on both sides of this question, and
will venture the assertion that the
number favoring the old way, the
way indicated by the constitution, and
Ivy good sense, is us four to one to the
number favOring the one convention
scheme.
The Columbia Herald is paper of
conservative tone and calm judgment,
and we still believe that it will fall in
line on what we deem the right side.
The Herald is right in saying that
the discussion of the matter is prema-
ture. But it was raised by the Nash
vile American, posing as the party's
organ and protesting to speak by the
card in all that pertains to party man.
agement That paper and the Frank
lin Review and Journal went so far as
to state that the one convention idea
had been generally agreed to by the
Democratic press OF the State. This
was not true, and had to he corrected.
The heresy had to be combatted in its
inciplency.
There are many reasons why the
two convention plan should be adher-
ed to. except that of precedent which
the Herald acknowledges is in itself
potent.
Can't the Herald tell us why it is
preferable to elect judges in August
instead of November? Why it is in
every way best to separate the selec-
ton Of the Judiciary and political Off
GERS?
But the onus of argument in this
particular is on those who advocate a
change. What reason can they give
for the proposed departure from par
" usage? Some miserable bosh about
economy is all that we have heard
advanced Since the expenses of a
convention are not paid out of the
State treasury or even the funds OF the
party, where does the economy come
in?
The real secret of the project is
nothing more than this: Mr.. John
j. Fertrces imagines himself the Dem
ocrltic boss in Tennessee. lie wishes
to dictate who shall fill all the offices
and he thinks he can control purely
political convention better than one
assembled Tor the calm purpose of Sc
lecting a Supreme Court.
1t behooves the people to defeat such
a scheme, and they will do it. Two
Democratic conventions will be held
next year. Both should be made up
exclusively of Democrats, and the can
didates chosen by both should be
Democrats. All classes of people
should participate in both. The opin-
ion of lawyers should have weight as
to the legal qualifications of candidates
for Judges, but all classes must partic-
ipate in their nomination.
1t is primarily REQUESTS that a body
that is to select Judges be in a calmer
and more deliberative mood than one
swayed by the passions and controlled
by the intrigues that always enter into
political conventions.
The Supreme Judges hold their Off
ces for eight years, the Governor is
elected for only two.
The fact that the American is a
stickler for party usage in all things,
but proposes to depart from it in this
instance, gives ground for suspicion of
machine methods.
The old custom VIII not be departed
from.
THE following paragraph occurs in
Gen. Grants paper on THE Siege of
Vicksburg" published in the Septem-
Der Century: "On the Goth of MAY |