The Columbia herald. [volume] (Columbia, Tenn.) 18??-1935, 1896-08-21

to become the regular nominee of
the regularly called Democratic
Congressional Convention.
AS it now stands, therefore, Mr.
Whitthorne has the advantage of
the situation. But in the interest
of Democrcy we ask, must it rest
there? Is it too late to harmonic?
Shall this Democratic district send
a gold bug prOtectionist, Force-bill
Republican, to Congress? Shall we
divide in:o Cox and Whitthorne fac
tions and send Arch Hughes to Con-
gress? Is it asking too much of the
candidates themselves and their
partisan friends, to ask that they cool
down little and consider for brief
period of time the best interest of
the Democratic party of this dis
trict?
+ Mr.. Whitthorne's friends may say
he is the regular nominee; and we
are not prepared to deny that. Mr..
CoX's friends may answer that it was
given him by unfair rulings and
questionable methods; and we are
not prepared to deny that. These
charges and counter charges may be
made and answered a thousand
times, but that does not help De-
mocracy or hurt Arch Hughes.
These stubborn facts remain; first,
that Mr.. Whitthorne has his per-
sOnal friends who will fight for him
to the end and that the prestige of his
nomination will give him the votes
of others. Second, that Col. Cox has
his friends, who will not desert him,
and that this list will be swelled
to some extent by those who think
he has been badly treated. Third,
they both have their enemies, who
regardless of nominations, right or
wrong-will help divide the party
vote. Fourth, it is further fact, an
undeniable fact, that if the Demo-
cratic vote is divided as nearly
equal as the delegates in the two
conventions were divided, or as the
vote in the recent primaries was
divided, and the Republicans should
poll their strength-as they always
do in Presidential years-the Repub-
lican will be elected.
1t is useless therefore to disguise
the fact that the present state of
affairs is dangerous to Democratic
success in this Congressional dis
trict. Itnot only puts the district in
the doubtful column this year, but it
will further engender bad blood be-
tween the counties of Williamson
and Maury, and it leaves two Con-
gressional Committees, organized by
the separate factions, to contend for
the right of way two years from
now, and keep alive the unfortunate
differences already existing.
The HERALD thinks, therefore,
that under the circumstances, that
paper and that Democrat serves his
party best who declines to become a
too ready partisan to this contro-
versy. We think some effort
should be made in behalf of Democ-
racy. We think the Democracy
and the patriotism of the candidates
should be called upon, and if neces-
sary some personal sacrifices should
be asked and given. We think dis.
interested, non-partisan Democrats
should call upon the State Demo
cratic Executive Committee, anC
ask their friendly offices in this
serious party trouble. We think il
anything can be done, something
should be done, and that we shoulC
not accept the present situation
without an effort to better oul
chances for success.
The question for Democrats tt
consider, is the way out of the diff
Guilty, and bearing on this question
we copy and commend the following
timely and sensible editorial from
the Nashville American:
"Regardless of who is at fault, wheth
ell both candidates and their friends ar
equally to blame, or whether the blam
can be properly placed upon any par
ticular person or persons, it is eviden
that the result of the Congressiona
Convention held in Columbia does no
help the Democratic party in that dis
trict, but, if not remedied, will help tn
Republican party, the cause of McKin
ley, the cause of Hanna. If the tw
nominees, both claiming to be regularl,
chosen by regularly constituted Demo
cratic conventions, make the race, ant
the intense feeling shown at Columbi
. does not abate, it is fair to conclud
that the Democratic vote will be divided
giving Republican candidate-an
there will certainly be one-an oppor
tunity to slip into Congress.
at is not our purpose TO dictate to tn
Democrats of the Seventh District, bu