The spirit of democracy. [volume] (Woodsfield, Ohio) 1844-1994, 1886-09-28
TESsEssEE's NOVEL CAMPAIGN.
The Rival Brother Candidates Speak
From the Same Platform and
Sleep in the Same Room.

The Rival Brother Candidates Speak
From the Same Platform and
Sleep in the Same Room.
The campaign in Tennessee this
fall is most remarkable. Nothing
like it was ever before seen in the
politics of any country. Two broth
crs. Robert and Alfred Taylor, are
rival candidates for the Governor
ship. They are making the canvass
together. "Bob," as he is universally
called. is the candidate of the De
mocracy, and Alf is the Standard
besrcr of the Republicans. A cor
respondent at Chattanooga wrltes.as
follows:
Usually POLITICAL contest in
Tennessee is series Of personal in
yectiye. long drawn out, and ofteu
the issues of the canvass are lost
sight of. The campaign this fall,
however. has all the points for very
fine come,..y. If it could be repro
duccd on the stage with one-quartcr
OF the rcalisms of the original con-
test it would be bound to have a long
run. The brothers are on the best
OF terms. and are constantly chafiiing
and Joking each other, to the amuse-
mcnt of the crowd that follows them
wherever they go. They belong to
one of the hest families in Tennes-
see. and both have a natural gift OF
oratory. During the last few days
Alfs voice has failed him, and real
izing that Bob was gaining ground
on the stump in consequence he hit
upon plan to checkmate him. The
idea was suggested by an experience
OF Col. Dick Menefee, of Kentucky.
in Congressional race many years
ago. Col. Menefec had served ono
term in Congress, and having had
taste of Washington political life
his heart craved for more. He was
very popular man in his district, a
part of which lay.in the mountain
regions. and was codfident of sue
cess. His rival, Judge Hogan, was
shrewd man. however, and when,
early in the last days of the canvass,
Mcncfee visited the mountains on
horseback, he found that all of his
friends in that region we're pledged
to vote for Hogan. He could not
understand it, but he saw that un-
less he could do something to stem
the tide his defeat was certain. He
soon learned that the secret of Judge
Hogan's popularity was that he play
cd the violin at parties. Menefee
for time w.s at his wits end, but
one nioht he found a large company
gathered in country school house,
with his rival playing away as hard
as he knew how. Calling onesof the
most influential men in the room to
one side, Mencfce said quietly:
..Judge Hogan plays very we'll"
Yes was the reply: we like man
who is not above coming around and
furnishing music for lis"
Il notice that the Judge plays
with his left hand up here" said
Mcnefce. Hogan was left-handcd.)
why" said the influential citi-
zen. "whnt do you mean"
Nothing much" replied Menefee
indircrcnt'y, only he always uses
his right hand when in Lexington. :"
This story went over the district
very rapidly. The well-known jeal-
ousy existing between the city and
country helped it along, and Judge
Hogan was overwhelmingly defeat
ed.
Ar Taylor has hccn playing the
fiddle game on his brother lie has
left two or three political meetings
early on account of his weak voice
and furnished dance music for par.
tics. Both OF the brothers are fair
musicians and know how to handle a
violin. Bob got ento his brothers
dodge very soon. however and retail
lated by visiting half Of the houses
along their routes. kissing the ba.
bics snd promising them allbirthday
presents when they grew up. These
side Issues. so to speak began to tel
on the constitutions of the brothers
and compromise has been arranged
Bob is to stop kissing the babies I'M
less Alf is present and can come II
for his share of the glory, and alst
agrees not to speak quite so loud o.
long until Alf's voice gets into bet
ter condition. In addition Bob sayi
he will not mention Cleyeland's civi
service policy again daring the cam
paign. For these concessions Al
has agreed to stop fiddling, excep
in duets with his brother.
But as the violin has been intro
duced into the canvass they find tina
they cannot put it out. Everywher
they go they are compelled to tax
their yiolins with them and play
shake-down after the regular meet
ing Of the night is over. The broth
crs' duet played at the Read Hous
here last evening was a very anus
ing sight Their parlors were crowd
cd, and the two brothers sat clos
together, surrounded by adherents
"Dixie." "Star Spangled Banner,
"Old Kentucky Home" and selec
tions from the ''Mikado' were ren
dercd in fine style. 1t was impossi
BILE, amid the shouts of laughter an,
applause, to say which was the bet
ter man with the bow.
At Cleveland, Tenn, last week tn
brothers addressed the largest meet
ing of the campaign. This is Re
publican stronghold, and Alf was i
high feather. But Bob's follower
made up in shouting what they lack