The comet. (Johnson City, Tenn.) 1884-1916, 1898-06-09
THE POPULISTs AND DEMOCRATS
Text of the Agreement Between Them in This
State.

ioAu vi tht Agreement between Inem IN Ihls
State
The Democratic State convention, to
nominate candidates for Governor and
three Railroad Commissioners, is to be
held this year in Chattanooga on June
20th.
This was decided upon Saturday by
the executive committee at Nashville.
The selection of Chattanooga as the
place for holding the convention was
surprise to everybody except those
East Tennessee operators who, it ap-
pears, had been at work to capture the
democratic hosts for several months, so
it is said, conducting their operations
much on the lines of the Spanish policy
The selection is in other parts Of the
state regarded as another indication
that the East Tennesseans, allied with
strong force from Middle Tennessee,
have gobbled everything in sight and
are prepared to snatch up everything
else that may present itself in the near
future.
The Populists Executive Committee
on Saturday adopted the plan of fusion
with the democrats as arranged by the
joint subcommittee. The Democratic
Executive Committee did not go SO far
as the populists. They conteated
themselves with referring the joint
committee report to the full state con-
vention, Here is a copy of the report
in full, published for the first time in
West Tennessee, as given out by the
populists:
Gentlemen; We, your committee
appointed for the purpose of investigat-
ing the differences existing between the
two parties i'll State politics, with a
viewof arriving, if possible, at some
agreement whereby such differences
may be reconciled, respectfully submit
the following as being necessary to Sc
cure the cooperation of both of our
parties at the ballot box to-wit:
l. To restrict the operation of the
Dortch law to the four largest counties,
namely, Shelby, Davidson, Hamilton
and Knox.
2. Take the authority to appoint the
election commissioners from the Gov.
ernor and require the Legislature to
elect state board Of three election com.
missioners, one Of the three most
prominent political parties in the state
to serve without compensation, said
board to be empowered and required tc
appoint three election commissioners
for each county. each state commission
er naming one.
3. 1t shall be made felony fer any
persons to print. send or cause to bt
sent out or distributed any fraudulen
ballots for any purpose whatever.
4, To so redistrict the state that th
number of circuit judges may be re
duced not less than four and chancel
, lors not less than two.
s. The duties OF Adiutant Genera
) and governors private secretary shal
be performed by the same person. al
+ lowing only one stenographer.
5 s. Clerical force at the Capitol TO b
9 reduced not less than 2j per cent.
T. The further abolition of the fe,
system and its abuses.
s. Reduced fees of clerks and as
sistants of both branches of the legisla
: ture.
8. Each State official shall be re
quired to make all contracts for print
ing on States account for his office
and publish same after verifying then
to the comptroller.
10. All visiting committees appoint
ed by the legislature shall be require
j. to make to the Comptroller an itemizs,
a statems snt of all their expenses Will
' actually on duty, and same shall b
e published.
:. We further recommend that the al
: sessment laws be revised in order tina
n a more just and uniform system c
IS levying taxes may be established al
fscted by neither favor or prejudice.
WILLIAM Nixon,
JOHN T. EssARY,
\ T. MTNs