The comet. (Johnson City, Tenn.) 1884-1916, 1886-10-28

BooNE's CREEK, Oct. 25.

BooNE's CREEK, Oct. 25.
Ed. COMET Your readers will un-
doubleday be interested in the most
novel Senatorial campaign on record
in the first senatorial district. Prof. |
A. M. Mettetal, native OF Michigan,
who has been a citizen OF Washington |
county since '7S, announced himself
as a candidate to represent the people
OF his county in the next Legislature,
on the prohibition platform. After
the otherI two candidates declared
themselves for submission, he with
drew from that field and announced
himself for the Senate.
AS temperance man and advocate
OF the prohibition amendment, he is
regarded rs the champion Of upper E.
Tenn. His bold, fearless and exhaust
i've lectures are the theme Of converse
ton wherever he has been, and he
casts CONSERVATION in the liquor deal
ers ranks by his uncompromising as
saults on their strongholds.
1t has been my good fortune te hear
Prof. M. several times during this can
vass, and each time l have heard
something new: and the attention,
Difference and respect with which he
is treated is sufficient proof that the
people are in full sympathy with his
cause. His lectures are animated, log
ical and illustrated with pleasing an
ecdotes and incidents, gathered from
observation. He has no difficulty in
holding his audience spell-bound by
his stirring eloquence for two hours at
time, without visible effort.
Prof. Mettetsl started out as an in
. dependent candidate on the prohibi-
ton platform. His political preieren'
ces are not offensive, while his patriot
ism and loyalty are undoubted. He
obtained pledges Of support from the
temperance men of both parties in
such numbers as to make his chances
somewhat flattering. to say the least
But a new phase presented itself when
the Dem. Convention OF Sept. 30th,
converting at Johnson City, nominal
ed no candidate for the Senate, but
pledged him the vote OF the democrat
ic party. This makes his election al,
most certain. as his friends are chiefly
from the other side, and many, like
myself, cannot endorse his opponent.
Prof. Mettetal speaks every day OF
night to the largest audiences known
to assemble on similar occasions, He
IS accompanied by his two little boys
who sing with accompaniment the
beautiful songs OF the band Of hope
and frequently move the audience tc
tears by the genuine temperance ring
' OF their childish voices. Prof. Mette
tai, who is highly accomplished mu
stefan, and holds the audience spell
bound with his original songs on pro
hibition, and convulses people with
:, irrepressible laughter with the render
ling OF his original songs entitled the
= Dickens They Didr" and "Pass the
Bottle Around, Boys"
Mr.. ], NJ, Simerly was invited by
: him during personal interview tC
meet the latter in discussion of thit
great issue before the people, but Mr.
!. s. refused to do SO, and contented him
self with issuing circular containing
an invitation to Prof. Mettetal to meet
him as the Democratic candidate in
face of the fact that Prof. M. does MOI
! stand on the Democratic platform, mol
has he received q nomination, bu
simply pledge Of support,
Mr.. Simerly goes to his published
appointments but seems to have nj
disposition to speak or the people d.
. . not care to hear him. AT Union, Bris
= tol, Blountville, Boone's Greek ant
other places from which / have heard
!, he had no audience and made no at
! tempt at public speaking, although
= his opponent was received with enthu
siasm and immense crowds at thes,
places and entertained both Demo
: Gratis and Republicans.
Prohibition is gaining ground, ant
any candidate who is not known to b
= a temperance man in practice as wei
3 as in the cause OF prohibition shout,
d be sat down on until he could be thor
ID oughly overhauled and reformed.
From REPUBLICAN.