Clarksville weekly chronicle. (Clarksville, Tenn.) 1873-1890, 1885-08-15
sEPERArE CONVENTIONS.


It has long been the custom of the
Democratic party in Tennessee, TO
hold special convention to nominate
its candidates for Supreme Judges.
seperate and distinct, from the one
which dominates candidate for Gov
ernor.
This course was very natural in as
much as the election OF the Judges
comes off three months prior to that
of Governor. 1t was very proper be-
cause convention to nominate Judges
should be composed of more lawyers
and fewer politicians than those that
nominate Governors, and it is desira-
ble to remove as far as possible the
intrigues and wire workings that
usually characterize purely political
convention, from body that meets to
nominate candidates for our highest
court
Then too, men who are selected to
occupy Judicial positions should not
be hampered by the platforms and
party measures ON which candidate
for Governor is expected to make his
canvass.
In short, the separate convention
idea sprung from the same reason that
instigated the trainers of the constitu-
ton to provide for separate elections.
-Fhe<Supreme Judges must be chosen
without that excitement and hurrsh
which enters into the election o. an
executive officer.
There is certainly no reason at this
juncture why the custom of holding
two conventions should be departed
from. With the factional and acri-
monious feelings that pervade the pol
itics of the Site its observance is
more necessary now than ever.
But just now comes the Nashville
American, posing as the party organ
and claiming to speak by the card in
all things that pertain to party man
agement, and says there is to be an
Innovation on this time-honored custom,
that next year there will be only one
convention. What is the object of
this movement on the part of the
machine? Can it be shown that it is
any way necessary for the good of the
State or the party? 1t is simply and
plainly, as we have said before, in or
der that the machine may capture the
candidates.
The CHRONICLE has no ticket made
out for the Supreme Judges, not even
one pet candidate whose interest
would in any way effect its policy.
No gentleman has ever said to us that
he WAS a candidate for Supreme Judge
and we have seen no authorized an
nouncements OF candidates for these
positions. One or two well known
lawyers who have been spoken OF in
this connection would, in our opinion,
be good men in such places. All we
desire is to see the bench filled with
capable and incompatible men, vigor-
Gus men of superior working capacity
and sound legal acumen.
1t will, of course, be expected that
Democratic convention select Demo-
cratic candidates. Further than this,
politics should not enter the cOnven
ton. The local questions that have
divided Tennessee Democrats should
in no way be considered. We will
not oppose candidate for Supreme
Judge because he has differed with us
on any of these questions.
But we seriously object to the ma
chine manipulating the convention at
its pleasure. The machine wishes to
fill the bench with Il set of men who
will be its tools and who will render
decisions ut the dictates of its organ.
1t is to this end that the American has
sprung the one convention idea.
One convention, and such a one as is
assembled for general political pur-
poses, will be more easily controlled
and more apt to do its bidding.
The CHRONICLE will fight the one
convention idea as it fights everything
in which the machine displays its
cloven foot. We contend for the old
way and the good way and all we
look to is the interest of the State and
the people thereof.