Clarksville weekly chronicle. (Clarksville, Tenn.) 1873-1890, 1885-01-10
COL. TOM MEALS CARD.

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Col Tom Neal the well known edi-
tor of the Dyersburg Gazette, is rep
resentative in the Legislature from
the counties of Obion, Dyer and Lake.
He received the unanimous noraina-
ton of the Democratic convention and
was elected by the largest majority of
any member of the General Assembly.
Before the Legislature met he was
prominently spoken of for speaker
and his chances for election might
have been coed but for the caucus
machine which nominated Mr.. Man
son. The following is his withdrawal
card which was published in the
American.
"Whom the gods would destroy
they first make mad" The dangerous
caucus system has again been inaugu-
rated in Tennessee by forty-two MEM
bers of the House of Representatives.
The management has spoken, and the
slate proposed weeks ago is being car
ried out to the letter. In obedience to
tile caucus of last night, ] am no lon
ger candidate for Speaker of the
House of Representatives OF my native
State. The day after reached Nash
vile, the World said: @She stoops to
conquer-is Tom Neal to conquer 2"
l didn't see the application of this
quotation for there are too many won
derfully profound things in this mod
ern institution of learning for the hui
man mind to fathom them all. But /
suppose it was pointer for its crowd.
The next day it was circulated that /
was largely interested in railroads, and
my friends wanted to know Just how
many railroads / owned. The idea of
country editor being interested in
railroads to the least extend is too
rich to talk about. But the railroads
are here, and they can't emigrate
Their owners and managers are our
citizens, who want to be of the people
and with the people. recognize this
fact and have refused to bIackgnird
them. On Sunday it was maliciously
circulated all along the line that the
Republicans had held a caucus and
resolved to cast their solid vote for me.
If the Republicans ever heidi any
caucus, or intended to vote for me,
am entirely ignorant OF the fact. Bit,
Mr.. Editor, this is to be the portion of
every man who dares to blindly follow
the present fateful leadership of Ten
nessee Democracy-a leadership that
has reduced splendid majority to in
significant numbers-a leadership that
came very near defeating the gallant
and chivalrous Bate leadership that
has relegated to the rear the battle
SCARED veterans that were wont to
lead our hosts to victory; leadership
which, if persisted in, will inevitably
wipe out what little majority we have
left. 1t Is certainly very unfortunate
for the Democracy that the caucus
system should at this time be revived.
In my district, where we have Just
gone through most aggravating and
almost disastrous canvass for Con-
gresham, the people demand reform
in the convention system, and will
look with suspicion and Indignation
at the mention OF caucus, in face of
the fact that we have fine fighting
majority in the House. / have always
been opposed to the caucus, for it is
always for the benefit of individuals
and not the country. have no per-
sonal feeling in this matter. That is
an insignificant thing; but this action
will spread further discomfort ali over
our State. If necessary, too, can go to
the rear, and when better days come
rnd wiser leadership prevails, fight my
way to the front again. Hurrah for
the next who dies. | was elected to
my seat by the largest majority of any
Democrat in the House That major
ity represents an intelligent constitu-
ency to whom owe a higher alleg1-
ance than to any caucus. l bring no
reproach to those who saw proper to
go into caucus inaugurated by men,
who are not members of the Legisla-
ture. That is their business. Some
of the best Democrats in the House
declined to go into it. /, and those
who acted with me, Will remain free
to sit and vote on all questions accord
ing to the dictates of our own con-
science, in the right as God has given
us to see the right. Tom w. NEAL. .
Representative of Dyer, Lake and
Obion.