The Bolivar bulletin. (Bolivar, Tenn.) 1888-1946, 1896-09-11
The Congressional Race.


The Nashville Sun, which is rIdicu-
lous without even being entertain
ing, has something to say about The
Commercial Appeal because this pa
per has recognized the Hon. Josiah
Patterson as the regular nominee of
the democratic party in the Tenth
Congressional District. With It's
customary divergence from the
truth, the Sun seeks to create the
impression that this paper has rec
ognizcd Patterson because he is a
gold man, The ground upon which
The Commercial Appeal supports
that gentleman is because he is the
regular democratic nominee. This
paper took no part in the contest
between Messrs. Patterson and Car
mack for the democratic nOmina-
ton. 1t had expected that the con-
testants would go before the demo-
cratic people of the district in the
primary as usual, and it was pre-
pared to support the nominee of the
primary; or if the regular congress
siOnal committee had ordered a con-
ventiOn, this paper would have ac-
cepted It's nominee as the candidate
of the party. The Commercial Ap-
peal took no part in the dissensions
of the party here, but advocated
and insisted upon the two wings of
the party getting together and hav-
ing an adjustment of their differen-
ces. Nothing calculated to widen
the breach ever appeared in these
columns. But no adjustment was
made,
The Commercial Appeal gave its
reasons last week for accepting the
nominee of the primaries as the reg
ular candidate of the democratic par
ty, and the Sun could point to no
flaw in the reasoning, and had to
take refuge in evasions and misstate-
ments. For instance, it says Josiah
Patterson is the nominee of a pri-
mary held by himself, and in the in
terest of himself alone. OF course,
there is no truth in this absurd
statement. The democratic com
mittee ordered a primary election,
as is the custom in this district when
there are more than one candidate,
and it was proposed from the Pat
terson side that each candidate
should Lave equal representation at
every precinct in the district SO as
to insure absolute fairness. This,
of course, was the very best way to
get at the sentiment of the people.
The very worst way and the one
open to the easiest manipulation was
that Of irresponsible mass-meetin gs
to select delegates to a convention.
The committee which called a
convention could not be regarded by
any disinterested democrat as the
regular mouth-piece of the democra-
cy of the district. The members of
the congressional committee adj
judged elected by the returning
board which had canvassed the vote
and thrown out the contest of DR..
Albright, of Fayette, met several
weeks ago, aud Col. Petit was cleo
ted chairman. The Albright con-
test was brought up again before
Col. Petit, who ruled that it had
already been settled. Two mem
bers of the committee thereupOn
met with DR.. Albright, though
they had not heard and decided that
gentleman's contest, and these three
dicharged the regularly elected chair
man of the committee, as well as
Shelby's other committeeman, and
filled their places with men who had
never received a single vote in Shell
by county. The nucleus of the Car
mack committee was two men, a mi
nority. The two men could not have
constituted a meeting of the commit
tee, because they were not quorum.
They never could have heard or
have decided a contest, because
they were a minority of the COM
mittee, and no sane man will claim
that in the absence of a quorum, a
minority of committee can legally
act for the committee. tits there
fore apparent that this minority
could not legally consider the Al
bright contest at all. Albright,
however, was taken in vi ct armis by
a minority which was a mere moth
ing. If this was the irregular"
democratic committee, then indeed
has democratic precedent, as well as
common sense, been turned upside
down.
The Commercial Appeal is an adj
vOcate of the free coinage of silver.
1t is supporting Messrs, Bryan and
Sewall to the very best of its ability.
1t has upheld the democratic plat
form in all its features. 1t is sup
porting the Hon. Robert l.. Taylor
for governor of Tennessee. 1t has
and always will support the demo
cratic party and its nominees. And
it is for this reason that it now sup !