Herald and tribune. [volume] (Jonesborough, Tenn.) 1869-current, 1890-10-02

AoebSAs
As long as one year ago 1t was
patent that Taylor meant to sue
coed himself in congress if it were
by any means a possibility. As
this became clear to the minds of
the peop'e protests began to be
heard, and other mer offered them.
selves as candidates for nomination
Judge Butler and Major Petit
bone. The situation developed
rapidly. The congressional dis
trict committee, consisting of men
appointed by the Taylor convsn-
ton Of 1888 called the convention
to meet seven months before cleo
ton day, with a purpose of fore
ing nomination before opinions
had become set, and while the
promises of Mr.. Taylor passed at
par. A preliminary canvass of
about a month followed the issu-
ance Of the call. Pettibone and
Butler soon found that while they
were rival aspirants for the nomi-
nation they had one vital interest
in common. Taylor's men meant
to control the convention from the
outset; and unless that control was
defeated neither of the others had
the ghost of a chance. If the
field had been free and fair the
fight would have been three-cor-
nered. Under the circumstances
the primary issue was forced to be
Taylor or anti Taylor; with the
secondary division of the anti Tay-
lor men into preference for one or
the other of two aspirants-a pref
erence that was visionary until
Taylor's grip on the organization
was broken. Butler canvassed the
district in his own interest, and
Pettibone in his own, and each Sc
cured what delegates he could; but
fhe friends of either we'll knew that
they must first fight Taylor in or
der to get a chance to express their
preference.
The elements met at Morristown
on April 10th as Taylor and anti
Taylor. The subordinate issue
had never yet been allowed one
opportunity to develop itself. Mr..
Taylor's course was so arbitrary
and light-headed that there was no
moment when vigilance could be
relaxed. The anti Taylor force
demanding a free and honest con-
vention-had the majority by many
votes. Taylor had the machinery.
If the machinery was run accord
ing to usage the fight was won.
Reports were rife that it would not
do so, but would change Gus tom
to meet Taylor's needs. A letter
embodying the common law of
conventions was sent to Taylor's
chairman, who ought to have been,
but in fact was not, the chairman
OF the party. He declined to COM
NIT himsel to it, and sent word he
would rule as he deemed best.
There were many contesting dele
cations, some of them frivolous be-
You'd expression in their claims,
and it is noticeable that they were
all in Mr.. Taylor's interest, against
delegations from anti Taylor coun-
ties. Not a Taylor delegation was
contested. In violation OF all
precedent the chairman of the
dis trict committee acted as q com.
mittee on credentials, had tickets
prepared, and issued them to those
he proposed to admit to the floor.
In every instance it was the Taylor
delegation which received the
tickets. Even democrats were
allowed the benefit of them; but
only three reached the anti TAYLOR
men. Every convention takes its
color from the prime requisite of
the men who compose it. To sit
as a member Of a democratic con-
vention one must be a democrat.
In q republican convention one
must be a republican. That is
the test. In this opera house con-
vention the primal test was Tay-
lorism. A democrat who was for
ALT was eligible; q republican who
was not for him was barred out.
1t was not a republican convention
only a Taylor one. 1t did not
meet to consult for the republican
party's good, and to do what was
wisest; it had only one object-to
nominate A. A. Taylor-and it
kept its eye single and did its
work.
The representatives of the re-
publican party, a majority of the
selected delegates against whom
there was not even a claim Of con-
test, met elsewhere. They had to.
Ii was that mr. not- In meet of oil