The comet. (Johnson City, Tenn.) 1884-1916, 1895-01-10
RINGING WORDS
An Able Address From the
State Committee.
The People Can Not Afford to
Countenance Fraud.
The General Assembly Shsuld Make On
Impartial Investigation.
Republicans Guilty of Many Elec-
ton Irregularities.
The Violation of the Poll Tax Law In
East Tennessee.
Republicans Guilty of Many Elec
ton Irregularities.
The Violation of the Poll Tax Law In
East Tennessee.
A Unanimous and Spirited DeClara-
ton of the Cause of the People
BY All the Committeeman.


Nashville American.
The State Democratic Executive
Committee held 3 most impol tant
meeting yesterday afternoon at the
Nicholson House. The meeting was
attended by an unusually large mum.
Der of members in person, but five Of
them sending proxies.
Chairman Carroll called the meeting
to order at 2 p, m. and the question Of
the gubernatorial election was imme
dately taken up for discussion. AT
8 40 the committee appointed a sub.
committee to prepare an address to
the people of the State and took a re-
cess to o'clock. At this hour the
committee reconvened and the ad.
dress, as submitted, was adopted, the
committee being unanimously in fa-
vor of full investigation of the recent
election.
The address, as adopted and signed,
is as follows:
70 the Democrats Of TenneSSee:-It is
claimed that Mr.. III. Clay Evans was
elected Governor at the November
election. Your committee having re-
celved information that great frauds
had been perpetrated, deemed it an
imperative duty to make careful in
vestigation. We found that there had
been widespread and fraudulent vio-
lations of the law by the Republicans.
1t was our further duty to urge that
the frauds be investigated by the Leg.
islature. Now, as your representa-.
tives. we deem it our duty to acquaint
yon with the reasons and motives for
the position we take.
1t has become questionable in some
quarters to denounce parties and in
Weigh against party spirit, and those
persons who have been acting with 8
dominant party and clandestineIy en-
couraging minority party will bt
found giving the most loud-moutt
cry. Nevertheless, from the beginning
Of the government parties have existed
and embodied the contending politi
cal energies. Many have risen ant
hourished for season, but those only
which have Represented Fundamental
ideas and forces have lived on. Firs
and oldest of them is the party yol
constitute and whose organization WI
represent today. 1t has retained it
vigor under severe adversely in th
United States, and it has been
THE SALVATION OF THE SOUTH.
Once only (in 1SS0) have the Reput
licans elected Governor in Tennes
see, and that was due to dissensiol
alone. It is the right and duty OF tn
Democratic party to represent tn
State, and it has done so by large ms
iorities and with ease.
So large has been the majority {
Democracy hitherto, that the usul
safeguards against arts and practice
OF the active minority-for minoritis
are always yigilant and active-wel
not observed. But as fraudulent vo
ing became more prevalent it becam
more necessary to enact more stril
3 gent election laws. This was done
1890 and 1891. In so dong, Tennesst
8 but followed in the wake of Pennsy
7 vania and numerous other Easter
Western and Southern States. tt
i election laws, il observed, would secul
, fair and honest elections. The Repu
|. lican leaders were not undiscernin
/, and they were as angry as discernin
i 1t is notorious that in the Republics
l. counties OF East Tennessee their lea
:, ers denounced the poll tax law as
Democratic trick" and openly a
visad that this law be disregarded al
violated. The political morals of
!, community are determined by its pu
n lie men. In numerous Republics
Z counties the violations and
10 DISREGARD OF ELECTION LAWS
: were general and systematic, Coz
" parstively few paid their poll tax
The law is settled, not only that {