The Columbia herald. [volume] (Columbia, Tenn.) 18??-1935, 1896-09-04
CARD FROM E. II. HATCHER.
Another View of tho Convention at
Columbia.

Ahotner view OF inc convention ut
Columbia.
To the Democratic Voters of tie SeUenth
Congressional District:
Most of you have doubtless read the
communication of Messrs. John II.
Henderson and others, and the article
of Col. N. n. Cox, relative to the un-
fortunate split in the Democratic ranks
at Columbia on the 18th inst. | pre-
face what | have to say with the state
ment that many of the delegates from
Franklin are my personal friends, and
my relations with Col. Cox have always
been of the most cordial nature. [
favored the nomination of the Hon. w.
j. Whitthorne, but have never, in any
manner, disparaged Col. Cox He, too,
is my friend, and | trust he and his dele
gates will still be my friends long after
the friction of the late contest has sub
sided. The following facts are sub
mitted, however, for the candid con.
sideration of the Democratic voters of
this congressional district.
1t is undeniable that convention
was duly and regularly called to meet
in Columbia on Aug. Is, 1895, and that
this convention did meet on that day
pursuant to this regular call. 1t can
not be denied that w. A. Stewart,
the Chairman of the Congressional Com
mittee, was the proper officer to preside
over the assembled delegates until after
the selection of temporary Chairman.
1t will not be denied that all of the dele
gates to this convention met in the
Opera House in Columbia, pursuant to
the regular call of the committee, and
that Mr.. Stewart, the proper person,
called these regularly assembled dele
gates to order, and announced to them,
while thus duly and regularly assem-
bled as convention of the Democrats
of the Seventh Congressional District,
that the convention was ready for bust
ness.
We have, then, regular Democratic
convention, duly called and Assem- bled,
presided over by the proper party
official. AS soon rs Mr.. Stewart am
nounced that he awaited the pleasure
of the convention, my friend, Mr.. John
III. Henderson, arose and addressed the
Chair, and, in few seconds, Mr.. f.. f..
Eslick did the same. Mr.. Stewart
recognized Mr.. Eslick. This called
forth loud Kisses, cat-calls and groans
from the Williamson County delegation,
and created a bosterous disturbance.
1t is but fair to assume that Mr.. Stewart
did not see Mr.. Henderson until after
he had recognized Mr.. Eslick. The
Williamson County gentlemen, how
ever, declined to accord this presump-
ton to Mr.. Stewart, but greeted him
with storm of Kisses and groans,
creating a confusion that did not sub
side until after they had withdrawn
from the hall. After Mr.. Eslick had
been recognized, he placed in nomina-
ton, for temporary Chairman, the name
of Mr.. n. B. Cheairs. Mr.. Stewart
thereupon called upon all who favored
his selection to say"aye."
This was put amid the uproar and
confusion created by the Williamson
County gentlemen because of Mr..
Stewards recognition of Mr.. Eslick. A
large number of delegates responded
"aye," and many responded "no.p Mr..
Stewart and a number of other gentle
men state that the "noes" were distinct
ly called for. Amid the increasing up
roar Of the Williamson County delega-
tion, Mr.. Stewart declared that the
"ayes" prevailed and that Mr.. Cheairs
was elected temporary Chairman. No
call was made for a division, but
pandemonium broke loose in William
son County, and Mr.. Stewart retired
and returned, accompanied by Mr..
Cheairs. Upon his entry on the stage
he was saluted by loud yells and Kisses
from Williamson County, with cries of
"put him out" "throw him out of the
window" etc, creating such confusion
that nothing-co be heard above the
din. Mr.. Cheairs tried, in vain, to adj
dress the convention; his voice was