The Memphis appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1886-1890, 1889-06-14
POLITICAL POT-POURRI.
THE SEASON FOR SPECULATION
FULLY OPENED UP.
County and City Affairs Receiving
Some Consideration-The States That
Are Being Made and Proposed on the
Quiet by Interested Parties.
The ball is open.

The ball is open.
1t may have been the rains which have
frightened the earth's green doublet,
filled the pools and ponds to OVERLOOKING
and caused the trees to weep with every
passing breeze.
II may have been the cessation Of out
door and indoor business that made people
talk.
1t might have been the springtime
which turns young mems fancies to
thoughts Of love, and which turns older
mems iancies to thoughts of love for
office.
No matter what it was, people are think
ing and when people think they will talk,
and when people talk the walls and news
paper reporters have ears.
The Dortch bill may be to blame.
That measure is regarded as being prob
lematical in its effects upon the various
interests concerned, both partisan and
personal Inspired by these feelings and
impelled by these considerations, opin-
ions differ both as TO fundamental princi-
pies and matters OF detail.
Among Democrats the question OF q con-
vention is being discussed. Some claim
that convention is unnecessary, that
matters should go on as they have gone
heretofore, and that sort OF an agree
ment sould be made by mass-meeting or
otherwise. There are other Democrats
who claim that convention is necessary
in order TO harmonic all differences in
the Democratic party. They claim that
the only way out OF the difficulty is for the
County Executive Committee to call a
meeting and appoint q City Executive
Committee, which will have the power TO
arrange for the selection OF city ticket by
convention or primary. They argue that
under tho Dortch bill only one candidate
for each political party can secure place
on the new election tickets, AMI that il
the Democrats do not select their STAN
dard bearers and go into the contest
united and full armored they will be de-
feated by a possible solid Republican
phalanx.
Tho election in January is OF more than
usual importance. This will DO a sort Of
political leap-year, when majority OF the
Two boards-the Police and Fire Commits
sioncrs and Public Works together with
the President OF the Taxing District, must
be elected, something that occurs only
every four years. II is claimed that the
Democratic party stands partly pledged to
conventions; that n convention would
have been held last time were II not for
the fact that Democrat acceptable TO the
party, Maj. Petit, was announced to con
test with the opposition candidate and
thus the matter was pretermittcd Tor the
time being.
The candidates for President OF the Tax
ing District arc numerous, but airy, insub
80 4. l.. -.
DAVID Park MADDEN, the present incum
bent, is about the only one who is con
fessedly in the field and, like kilrain, h,
will claim the champion belt until som,
more powerful gladiator comes forth and
wins IT, The Hon. David is not goinl
around telling people that he is u candi'
date, OF course, but everybody knows tina
he Is candidate 10y force OF habit, II fol
no other reason, aud that he belongs 4
that class who seldom die, and never 70.
!. sign. The others are merely speculative
possibilities. Their names are mentioned
with frequency and their praises are being
sung with artistic variations by their 70
spcctiye friends Like Barkis, many o
them ARE willin'," but few care 30 maxi
the announcement until comfortably Ger
tain OF probable success. The friends o
DR.. Porter will urge his acceptance Of tn
place. which, II Is understood, he has dc
clned most positively.
The friends Of Judge Galloway vii
marshal their forces In his behalf aud
while II Is feared that no will decline,
Is hoped that he may be induced TO nc
ccDt.
The friends OF Mr.. John X. Speed woul
like to sec that gentleman at the head o
the city government, and will make
strong effort 10 induce him 10 consent &
make the race, but he, too, II Is claimed
will decline.
Then there are others, among whom
may be mentioned Mai. Petit, and per
haps other members OF the city govern
ment who, being Princes Of the house Q
David, viii lay low and think loudly uuti
the chances for President lladden's n
election arc gone glimmoring, when the.
will endcavor 10 array themselves either 4
Eliah's mantle or In one Of their own.
The Office OF President OF the Taxin
District Is n powerful sialogogue, and
contemplation Of IL makes many mouth
water for lis luscious sweets Not only
the place one Of great power and homo
land profit Iushl) but the iorIunat
winner Of the prize can make a stepping
stone Of tho position and glide SMOOTH
into the Gubernatorial seat, providing tn
gate thereto should open toward Wes
Tennessee Interest, therefore. In thi
election is great and growing, both on &c