The comet. (Johnson City, Tenn.) 1884-1916, 1898-02-17
GOV. TAYLOR TALKS.
Makes Statements Regarding the
Senatorship.
Dacla.es He Elected TurlGy-SOme Remarks
Anent the Banners Course and His
Future Candidacy.

Nashville, Tenn. Feb. 10.-Gov. Tay-
lor had recovered from his attack of
illness sufficiently to be in his Office to-
day. He declined to talk about the
work OF the legislature, but expressed
a willingness to talk about the recent
senatorial contest. The Governor was
in very pleasant mood, sbut showed
that he felt keenly the criticism by GER
tain papers of the state upon his action
in the senatorial contest. He was par
ticularly pertubed over the comments
made by the Banner and SAID:
"My friend, Baskette, editor Of the
Banner, has been looking through a
glass dimly. He holds my picture as
the picture of inconsistency, but while
he does not look like me, thank the
Lord, he has taken his own image in
the looking glass for mine. He posed
as the advocate of Mr.. Turley for the
United States Senate, but is disturbed
in spirit because 1 elected his man.
Oh, consistency, thou art jewel oh,
Baskette, thou art precious stone.
81 never thought of entering the
senatorial contest, but Mr.. McMillin
opened his headquarters ten days be-
fore | had called the extra session,
which meant that he intended to dem
onstrate to the world that l had done
wrong in appointing Mr.. Turley over
him, and which meant humiliation to
both Mr.. Turley and me.
THE contest became sectional be-
tween Middle and West Tennessee
Middle Tennessee had the largest mum
Der of votes, and I admit that Mcmillan
would have been elected under the pc
culiar circumstances which existed, hat
not entered the race, but Mr.. McMil
lin must admit that had he not entered
the race Mr.. Turley would have beer
elected by acclimaticn on the frs
ballot.
81 also admit that / believed Mr.
Turley could not be elected when en-
tered the race two days before thu
meeting of the extra session, because
there were twelve or fourteen of thu
noble representatives who support
ed me inclined to McMillin, as a sec
ond choice, but / discovered on sth'
morning previous to Mr.. Turley's elec
ton that all but three or four of m,
friends were of their own accord vii
ling to vote for Mr.. Turley to breal
the deadlock The gentlemen VIII
managed for me in the contest wer
thoroughly posted as to my wishes AM
my deliberate determination, whicl
were to elect Mr.. Turley, If the oppor
tunity ever arose during the contest.
81 did not want to be elected unit
it was demonstrated that my friend
Mr.. Turley, could not be elected.
81 said in my speech on the evenin
i, of the nomination Of Mr.. Turley, tina
J | would appeal to the people and Sc
whether they were for me for the Uni
ted States senate.
81 cannot now see any inconsistenc
} or any crime in that. | alluded i
that remark, more particularly, to fs7
gentlemen who sat in the hall of rel
; resentatives and voted against the e1
press will of their people, as then b'
lieved and as | now think.
/ 81 have no further explanation
make. The people shall know the mC
tives which have prompted me and th
methods which were used to thwal
their will. | am in good humor wit
the world, and am not really angr
with those who mistake my image fC
theirs in the mirror, and shall expeC
the hearty and valuable support of m
friend, Basket, in my race for the sci
ate, as / have had it so ardently in tt
past, with an Interrogation point.