The Atlanta constitution. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1885-19??, 1897-07-19
BOB TAYLOR AND
HIS ELEPHANT
Governor of Tennessee Has PaChyderm.
on His DisitS.
A POLITICAL WANG ANIMAL
Senatorial Appointment Is the Cause
of the Agitation.
Ne WOULD LIKE TO WEAR A T0GA
IT Is Said That 1t Is Case of "He Will
and He Won't and He Can't
and He Must

Washington. July 2-(Special)
Bob Taylor is just now man with an ele-
plant on his hands Like the man In
wang" the governor of Tennessee Is
having his troubles; but unlike that other
elephant which had the continuous per
Torrance appetite. this one can find takers
Governor Bobs elephant is seat in the
United States senate. Other governors, I'M
der similar circumstances. have been en-
barrasscd-a gentleman named Bushnell
for instance-but hero the situation Is DIFF
ferent and the embarrassment is not due
TO the fact that there Is but one man
TO elect. as In the Ohio case, but to tho
fact that there are too many.
There is no Hanna ownership in the
democratic party of Tennessee. on the
contrary, there are so many deserving ana
valuable democrats In that state that the
governors dilemma IS very much like that
of the starving man who is brought sudden
ly face 10 face with the unlimited Sdstroho-
mic poss bliries OF a Delmonico's; every
thing is so good that he cant choose
When Bob Was Wise.
There Is one respect in which there Is
great resemblance TO the Ohio case, now
ever and that IS the desire which mas
taken root In the governors breast 10 get
hold OF that seat for himself. BOP layl"r
for long time had senatorial bee ca
Vorting about the upper part OF ms DUN
lap Very recently there mas been deniai
OF this from those who are closest 10 the
governor but there Is no doubt he has had
the desire TO go TO the senate for years
aud / have Eoticed when that desire once
finds iodgmcnt in the brain Of the states
man il seldom leaves
When he was in Georgia last Governor
Taylor talked about the senate and the
hope he had OF some time landing there.
The talk naturally turned TO senator Har-
rls and Bob told this story:
About the time of the last senatorial
election ] went up to old Senator farrlss
room and In the course OF our talk on
other subjects ! said: senator Two de
cided l won't run for the senate until you
die
well. Bob spoke up the old man. All
I've got 10 say is that You show damned
good sense
Il changed the conversation after that"
said the governor N telling the story, but
1 agreed with him"
Has a Change Come?
But recently a change has come over
the dreams Of the humorist-goveta Two
or three months ago it was given out that
H.. intended to resign and at that time ne
declared TO his friends that his purpose
was 10 retire forever from public life. Upon
several occasions recently Mrs. Taylor
fully made up his mind 10 that course,
that political life WAS not nearly rs at
tractiNe 10 him as that which came with
the lecture platform. and that both 10 aud
she wero much happier IN the platform Life
than !n politics.
All of this seems direct enough, but.
The but" comes from the politicians who
place little faith in these representations.
Ia support OF their doubt they stand upon
the broad ground that tho number OF men
a 80 ulHsl
chance to be senator-no matter how small
the chances innnltesimal. and they point
10 the multiform fumors Of dummy APP
pointments which arc just now hliing the
Tennessee papers as indicating the SOW
errors intention Of so pulling the wires as
10 aid himself in the future.
Bob an Uncertain Quantity.
Favery Tennessoan you meet has a dr.
fercnt theory as 10 the governor purposeA
and the probable solution of the present
dilemma. III Il were anybody but Bob.
we would know what to expect they say;
but 4 ind that they are not at all agreed
AS TO what would be done were somebody
else in the governors chair.
II the governor does not want to come
iimseI-lf has talk OF retiring is sincere
he may make a purely personal appoint
ineut To honor some personal lfiehd lor
the short term. ana ia that case nobody can
t,u VINO il will be. There is "A wide Held
]
ulation is mere guess woih. a.,
IT, however. lac has an eye single 10 inc
future of Bob Taylor there are several
appointments he might make which Nouid
help him. As TO the best course Tor nm TO
pursue in this event the Iehntsse'lils are
by no means agreed.
The Four Prominent Figures.
There are four figures prominent In the
politics OF Tennessee. Tie governor is one
oil these. Senator Bate is another. CON
,ressmcn Bea McMIhn ana James ID.
richardson the other two.
Between McAnllin ami Richardson there
Is great rivalry. Both were candidates for
the sTeakership nomination at the hands OF
the house democrats. and McMillin is sull
very sore over the part which he believes
Richardson played in comprising his defeat.
I his rivalry between the two men shows IT.
self on every possible occasion, and there
ar. nelly of these occasions. Both are nat
ural.y ambitious 10 get 10 the senate
both have been credited with laying their
plans to succeed Bate bOth nave strong
hopes OF the appointment.
The victory of the ono means the defeat
of the other. for both hail from middle
Tennessee, and in politics down there those
divisions OF the state figure largely. Sena-
tor Rate also comes from that division
of the state, and Il is his hold on the peo-
pie which has Kept both McAiilin and
X richardson In the background so far as
gettirg 70 tho senate IS concerned in tho
past.
How Combinations Are Possible.
The next legislature VIII elect two SON
etors General Bates term expiring in 1901
This makes deals and counter deals posi-
Lle and compllcatas the situation greatly
The problem which confronts Taylor is
whether it is wiser for him TO form a
f.fr,,t f.r, NIL Of ~ uaV a.