The Memphis appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1886-1890, 1888-12-13
BATES-EVANS.
Some Light Thrown on the Contest.
An EXTRACT From Letter Of Soc
rotary of State Allison.
What He Says About the Issuance
of the Bates Certificate.
The Governor Did This Without
Allison's Knowing About 1t.
The Signature Of the Secretary OF State
Was Affixed BY the Secretary's
Clerk-Allison Insists That
He is Right.

We are permitted by friend to make
the following extract from letter by Sec
rotary Allison, in which that well known
and popular functionary explains the mat
ter OF the Bates certificate in way to leave
nothingmore to be desired. 1t is evident
from this that Gov. Taylor thinks "a nod
as good as a wink TO q blind horse"
EXTRACT FROM SECRETARY ALLIsoN's LETTER.
began this letter, however. to write you about
something else, not my candidacy, but little In
reference TO Bate Euans controversy.
II occun 10 me, from some things that have been
tald that my connection, or part, with the issu.
ance of the certificate to Mr.. Bates is not under.
stood and probably not by you. In recent inter.
view Qnst Fridays american, | bccyc) | tried N
make the public INSTRUMENTATION display of
my own straightforwardncSs aud undertaking ad.
herence to what believed right. and without any
exhibition Of fcelng-that did not. by word, ac,
or insinuation, suggest or advise the issuance Of
the certificate TO Mr. Rates at the time II was
Issued. and for the purpose II was issued,
according 10 the Governors verslon OF H. further.
that did not know It had been issued rs | stated,
until Cner the vote had been canyasscd aud com.
pared by the Governor and myself and after both
sides had been heard, and after | had communi.
Gated my conclusions TO the Governor, In which |
Understood him 10 concur by noldng his head,
IN the manner people do when asserting 10 what
you say, aud after | had read 10 him my written
memoranda Of my reasons for my position. The
Governor mover did tell me that he had issued.
signed and scaled certificate for Mr. Bates aud
when he caused my Clerk Tor Secretary. as
he has been termed 10 sign my name 20 the
certificate, lac charged him tiny Clerk not 10
mention IL 10 any one and 10 mako no
memoranda or record Of Il, 10 my clerk
did not tell me oi the issuance until l. hiring hard
hJrom Other s0ur'c, dstci hn dbJu' a. Now, ask
you, H. under all the circumstances II was not
nauml for me 70 infer, as did that the certificate
was Issued by the Governor In pursuance Of his dc.
olsion In favor OF Mr.. latesl What other cOnclu.
sioh could come to' II hal been consulted, OF
told that certificate TO be- Issued In due form
----Signet. sealed, etc, but not In good faith and
only for the purpose Of lodging or avoiding legal
proccc1ings-and requested TO join IN a. | would
have siid no. emphatically no. because I do not
believe In that Kind Of efficiency IN a public
officer and further. I knew the Board OF
Canvnsecns being the GJrrRor aud ~ rcinrva( State
could not be maninmurcd o. compelled 20 do. or
not 20 do, anything before they hal reached a con.
clusion hat II the Board agreed ln declaring the
result In favor Of either Bates or Evans ~ poirrr
couldrcstmiu II from clrryils H. decision Into q
feet by the Issuance u certificate In pursuance 81
that decision.
have no lcifc b. say or DO anything that will
'clet % Others or that viii tend 10 create further
disturbance ne 10 this matter. but l do want my
friend. Ia know and understand my connection
with IL aud cuufsc Ia the whole affair