New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1895-01-18
THE TENNESSEE SITUAII0N'
MICH INTEREST FELT IN 1T AT WASH
INGTON.
,,,,,oc.p ATTIC coNGREssMEN FROM THAT STATE
ALMOST UNANIMOUSLY CONDEMN THE AC-
rroy or THE LEGIsLATuRE-THEIR
a,.>- c,r ,Tr-s AFFECTED.
inv TELEGRAPH TO THE TRIBUYE.l

fey TELEGRAPH TO THE TRibuNEl
Washington Jan. 1.-THE political situation III
Tennessee naturally eXcites d sood oedl oi "''e'
,,o, among members OF the House OF Representa-
. ..Y f., Washincton and many are the questions
49,, 10 tho Democratic Congressman from that state
in regard to It. Thanks to the comprehensive anu
lucid letters that have recently appeared III i"e
Tribune the nature Of the Democratic conspiracy
70 rob Governor-elect Evans and the republican
Marty Of the fruits OF their great political triumph
arc nretty well understood by most OF the Repuoh-
can Representatives and their Interest Is therefore
=. intelligent as Il IS keen and embarrassing to the
Tennessee Democrats. whom they ply with ques-
,,ons on the subject While the Democrats o. COURSE
feel a lively interest in the matter anu DISCUSS /.
vl.h great earnes;nos5 amcng themselves they an
decline to express opinions FOR publication IN PIT
v,,e conversations with Tribune Correspondent
b,ifAozen OF them have spoken with more or less
frnedom but always with strict injunction mat
nothing they said should be published. IL - ho1
,o,at.on OF this injunction TO say. however that
only one OF them attempted 10 JUSTIFY the COURSE "a
the Democratic leaders IN Tennessee OF OF the eau
c,s ~ Democratic members OF the Legislature lie
declared that gross frauds were perpetrIted' IN
so,,e Of the counties In East Tennessee trefefrlng
,o the charge that men who had no; paid their pom
taxes had been allowed 70 votel but ne haH hot
a word 10 say about the men u heavy Democratic
counties who had paid their poll taxes anu yet
were allowed 10 vote. He summed up his opinion
In about these words. IT'S simply 4 question OF
nocv whether the Democratic party shall also"
Evan. 70 be inauguratel whether II shall walt
tno years and ,hcn defeat him AZ the polls as
martyr"
No other Democratic Congressman from that state
was found who shared or expressed the views OF
the one whose words have been quoted on the
contrary. all except one 81 them have expressed
their modification or Indignation. or both on ac-
count Of the course % their party. ana even de-
clarcd that Il, could possibly be justified unless
&, could be shown that every step IN the procedure
was based on clear and ndabitablc evidence sum
Gent 10 Justify it-"such evidence as would satisfy
all the people irrespective o: parry that exact JUS
tce had been done" lie ia not care 10 discuss
the legal and constitutional questions involved
pleading that he had not carefully studied or eN-
amned them but he dld say IN substance:
I DO not see how under the Jaw the investisat-
Ing Committee j. going 10 ascertain me lacis nee
,ntser ~ vot.s cast i'm . certain county was
grpater than the number OF poll taxes paid Plus
the number Of legal voters ahoN, the age o'
NIFTY years. ard u may assume thit me oV.fpius
/ know OF to ascertain the Identity OF the men
who cast those illegal votes ana even III ,nat cousd
be able to satisfy Itself On ANYBODY ere as IN, TO
gnI votes II would b, clearly unjust to conhne
In. investigation either TO the counties that gave
jorities for Turney. The poll-taN law Is a merto-
rious one. because the proceeds oi the TAX are
law diiicn, Of enforcement and matter OF
fact It's requirements are often disregarded 50 far
ss th.y appIy 10 voters on election day and sup
pose that the laXness Is no greater IN one county
than IL Is In another.
The probable future consequences OF the con-
splracy to the Democratic party in Tennessee
are uppermos, IN the minds Of ali the Democrats.
and with two or three exceptions they share the
opinion OF the one who said to Tribune CORE
spondent several days ago.
Il Is the worst political blunder that the party
In Tennessee has ever been guilty OF IN IT. en-
tire history II Governor Turuey had put his foot
down and declared that he would not Toe a party
To II and that Evans. having received a majority
on the face Of the returns. suould he inauRurated
as Governor I'm accordance with the provisions
OF the State Constitution, that declaration would
have been worth A good deal more to him and TO
will b. on the proposed terms. Inc great major
ity Of the people OF Tennessee are a Law abiding
| people, and In my opinion they Will be likely TO
| resent the action Of the Legislature.
The editorial suggestion Of The Memphis Az
| alanche" that any action OF the Legislature that
| would nvalidate the election and title OF Evans
| as Governor would also invalidatc tho titles Of
| Tennessee Congressman to thor seats In the
House OF Representatives excited n good deal
| OF interest and evident uncasiness among the
latter to-day, but they unwilling to express
any opinion in regard TO 1t. II discussed
| freely among Republicans, some OF whom ev-
identity regarded 1t with considerable favor. al
| though they were not ready to commit themselves.
| The fact that the Democrats. Will form but a
| small minority I'm the next House of Representa-
| lives and that they Will not control the Senate
| excerpt with the aid OF Populists. who profess 10
be strongly opposed 10 unfair and dishonest cleo
| ~ to bring the question home to senator Harris
| and the Tennessee Democratic Representa- ives-
| hereafter see their way clear to discuss 1t more
| freely and perhaps EVEN exert some influence 10
prevent the success OF the conspiracy In which the
| leaders of their party are now engaged