Herald and tribune. [volume] (Jonesborough, Tenn.) 1869-current, 1894-02-28
FROM WASHINGTON CITY.
Great Interest Felt at the Capital in
the Result
OF the Congressional Election in the First
Tennessee District.
lFrom our Special CORRESPONDENT
WASHINGTON, Feb. 10, "a.


The question which the Republicans
of the First District, in about one week
after you publish this, will have decid.
ed is of much interest to Tennesseans
in Washington, of both parties, whether
from East, Middle or West Tennessee.
1t is no exaggeration to say that all
Tennesseans here feel more interest in
the result of the contest now going on
in the First District than they do in any
other district In the State. 1t is as
summed here that those able Demo-
cratic Congressman, Benton Mcmillan
and Josiah Patterson will be reelected,
and Republicans, as well as Democrats
desire that they should be because they
are both leaders in the House and
credit to our State. While would say
nothing in disparagement of other mem.
bers of our Tennessee delegation, who
are candidates for reelection, it is
fact that if they fail of reelection their
places might be filled by abler men.
But the interest attaching to the race
in the First District arises from the
candidacy of Brownlow. There are
three reasons for this:
l. He is not only well known to all
Tennesseans here, but he is popular
with all of them, Democrats as we'll as
Republicans. He is genial, compan-
ionable man, kindly and accommodate
ing, and no Democrat would hesitate
to call on him for personal favor, for
anything he could do which did not in
volve sacrifice of his party's interest.
2. He is regarded here as man of
decided talents, born politician, and
If elected he will be one of the ablest
men in Congress from Tennessee and
the South, and, therefore, credit to
his district and State.
3. He is known to be a splendid
worker and, therefore, capable of do
ing great deal for the people of his
State, as he has done, and it is not
doubted that he would be of great SER
vice in promoting such legislation as
would help the material interests of
Tennessee.
A great injustice has been done
Brownlow, by certain of his Republi-
can enemies, in the effort TO detract
from his ability in having claims of all
kinds paid to the people of his district,
and in having them appointed to Office.
l suppose they felt that to admit the
truth in these matters would be to vir-
tually give up the fight; it would be to
make an admission as to his ability
which would be dangerous to the pros
poets of other candidates. Now, the
truth is that more Tennesseans have
been appointed to Office in this city
through the labors of Walter P. Brown
low than any other man who has served
in Congress from Tennessee since 1860,
| unless Senator Isham G. Harris be- ex-
cepted, and am not certain that Har-
ris has had more appointments made
than Brownlow. Neither Horace May
nard, L. G. Houk, or Gov. Brownlow
had half as many Tennesseans appoint
ed to office as w. P. Brownlow has had,
and neither one of them did half as
much to get pensions for our people as
has Walter Brownlow. 1t may be re-
piled to this that they did not try t. do
so. Admitted. I only state the fact
that they did not.
But few days ago met Tennes-
see who came here last March for an
Office. His Democratic Congressman
did all he could for him, but failed to
have him appointed because he did not
know how to 60 at it in the right way.
He had been here for weeks, and had
about given up all hope of getting a
place, when he accidentally met Brown
low and told him of his troubles and
failures. Brownlow, who had had ex-
perience in getting offices for people
since 1878 and who was perfectly ia
miliar with all the methods necessary
in that line; that ID to say who knew
all about the "trickery"( (as isenemies
say in such matters, told him of the
mistakes his Democratic Congressman
had made, and told him how his Con
gresham ought to go to work, what he
should do, and the Congressman acteG
on Walter Brownlow's advice and haC
his friend appointed. Speaking to mt
of it this Democrat said: II believe
that if Brownlow were in Congress, Re
publican os he is, he could have more
Democrats appointed to Office under 1
Democratic administration than coulG
new inexperience man of the Demo
cratic party" have no doubt this /,
true and for the same reasons that Is
ham G. Harris had more men and wo
men appointed to Office under Arthur
| administration, than did many Repub
lican Senators and Representatives
This was because Harris, like Brown
low, is shrewd politician and mos
industrious worker. Besides industr,
it is necessary that Congressman
should have tact and ability of Ger
tain kind and these Brownlow possesse
as he has proven.
If he should be defeated for the nom
ination, and should keep away from
Washington, and quit attending to tn
business of the people of the First Dis
trict, as he has dcne for sixteen years
the Republicans of his district woul
then know that they had made blur
der in not having his services as thei