The Asheville citizen. [volume] (Asheville, N.C.) 1885-1889, 1886-08-12
The Tennessee Democratic
Convention

Now in session in Nashville excites
much interest abroad as we'll as
tribulation among its members. It is
an unusually large body, with very pro-
nounced sectional preferences and deci-
ded animosities. Our information comes
down to the evening of the 10th, and not
being able to make head nor tail of the
conflicting kilograms, we cut the knot by
giving the following from the Knoxville
Tribune of the 11th =.
NASHVILLE, Tenn, Aug. 1A-The East
Tennessee delegates met in Caucus this
morning, at ten o'clock, in the Olympic
theatre for the purpose of selecting from
the seven candidates from the Eastern
division of the State the strongest man
whose name should be presented to the
Democratic convention as East Tennes-
sees choice TOR Governor.
Df. j. C.Cawood, of Jefferson county,
was elected chairman and Joe. III. Bean,
ofthe Knoxville Tribune, was made Sec
retary.
The friends of Hon. Robert L. Taylor
refused togo into the caucus and many
of them disobeyed the instructions of
their counties by declining to participate.
But the East Tennessee delegates by an
overwhelming majority decided TO hold
the preliminary caucus. :
The names of Hon. Thomas L. Will
liams of Knox counsy, Hon. T. M. Nc.
Connell of Hamilton county and Hon.
John Allison of Washington county
were placed before the convention.
On the first three ballots Williams was
ahead, McC Connell second and Allison
third. Then the caucus adjourned for
dinner In the afterp oon the votes were
about the same as at the morning session,
but as the balloting progressed Mccon-
nell gained and was soon in the lead with
Williams second. On the nineteenth ball
lot Williams withdrew and the greater
part of his strength went to Mcconnell
On the twentieth ballot after some delay
Allison was Withdrawn and Mcconnell
WAS chosen by acclamation. ~ g,tt
/ There was consid iderable feeling against
Taylor's friends because they refused to
go into the caucus, and the East Tennessee
delegates who went into the caucus will
not now vote for Taylor under any con-
sideration. Should Mcconnell fail to
secure the nomination there is scarcely a
possibility that his strength would go to
Taylor. The delegates who were in the
East Tennessee carlcus will divide the
strength between Dibrell and Looney
should Mcconnell fail. Dibrell would
receive the majority of the East Tennes-
see votes.
There is considerable excitement to-
night and as is USUAL on such occasions,
the Maxwell House lobby is packed With
delegates from all parts of the State.
Bob Taylor's friends are more excited
than any other delegates, and are dis
agreeing among themselves They now
admit that Taylor would have been the
nominee of the caucus had they not re-
fused to go into it, and they feel that
their refusal has defeated him. 49, &
J There now seems to be only one chance
left for Taylor. He viii have, his friends
claim, 400 votes ins the convention.
These will stick toShin In case of a
dead lock between the other Candidates
or between Dibrell and Looney the Tay-
ior men will attempt to stampede. the
convention for their favorite. This is
Taylor's only chance. ~
Colonel w a. Henderson, Of Knox
seems to be developing some strength
and he is Thought to stand as good a
chance for the nomination as Taylor.
Hon. w. L. LedgerWood is spoken of as
a dark horse though the sentiment of
the convention is strongly against dark
horses, Red Cloud is one Of the possible
tiles.
There is general opinion that the
convention f0smorrow will adopt con-
serVative platform. The tariff plank of
the National Democratic platform of 1884
will be endorsed, the convention will be
silent upon the Blair bill and the rail
road commission and will recommend a
diseontinuance Of the penitehtiaFY lease
system as soon as better system can be
found. There will doubtless be sub
mission plsnk in the platform though
there will bea discreet silence upon the
merits of prohibition. The platform will
| be brief.
Mexican Grass and other Hammock.