The Maryville times. (Maryville, Tenn.) 1884-1944, 1898-03-26
VICTORY OR DEFEAT?
Gibson Makes Move that May Cost
Him His Job.


met at Clinton Saturday held a
stormy session, unseated an anti Glib
son committeeman, placed in his stead
an open fighter for Gibson, and ad
journed to meet the first Saturday af
ter the County August elections in
Knoxville at which time they will
devise plan upon which the next re-
publican candidate from this district
for congress will be selected.
The fight for an early convention
was bitterly made by Messrs. Rogers,
of Knox; Buttram, of Scott; Greer, of
Loudon, and Penland, of Sewer; they
kept up their fight until II a. M, at
which time they were joined by "Doc"
Owings, of Roane county, who had
before favored a primary election.
Mr.. Owings saw that Cong' essman
Gibson was trying to get a late prl-
mary in hopes that it would rule him
off the track.
From II o'clock until p. M, at
which time the committee was called
to order, a strong battle was waged
and it looked for a time as if con-
vention would be called, as the anti
Gibson people had the promise of Sam
Brazeale, Gibson's Roane county COM
mitteman to vote with them, provided
they would get five members of the
committee to go with them; Gibson
learned of this fact and immediatly set
about to counteract the dose and after
a consultation with his henchmen it
was decided to unseat Mr.. H. M. Ed
mundson, of Blount county, who was
appointed by Chairman Buttram 10
succeed the late Moses Waters. This
feat was accomplished, so that Braz-
eale would not be compelled to carry
out his agreement as noted above.
Congressman Gibson and his CO.
workers went to Clinton Friday night
and held meeting at which time he
and F. w. Galbraith and Coram Acuff
had lively tilt. Both of the cap
tain's friends at that time were On the
fence but by some means they later
kissed and made up. Mr.. Glbson's
headquarters were opened in the Clln-
ton Inn in charge of himself and N.
H. Greer, his secretary. Hon. Jesse
L. Rogers and Hon. w. H. Buttram
also had headquarters at the same
hotel, as did "Doc" Owings. Mr..
Greer and Mr.. Penland had head
quarters at the Strater house.
Crowds visited the different head
quarters all day and passed away the
time by discussing the situation and
making bets as to the outcome of the
convention.
Promptly at I o'clock Chairman
Buttram called the committee to order
in the court house by stating that as
chairman of the committee he would
do nothing to take advantage of the
other candidates. He proposed an
open session of the committee, tina,
all the candidates and the people
might watch the proceedings.
No sooner had Mr.. Buttram taken
his seat than Hon. w. D. Wright
moved that the committee go into ex
ecutive session. The motion carried,
Gibson's men favoring it and the -four
ants vice-versa. The committee re-
paired to the registers office, where
they remained an hour.
EXECUTIVE SESSION.
The first thing done in the executive
session was for Hon. w. D. Wrigh
to move to unseat Mr.. Edmundson
of Blount. This was opposed by
Messrs. ]. w. Borches of Knox anc
w. r. Montgomery of Sever, bu
after half hour of parley the motion
was carried and Mr.. Edmundsor
dropped from the committee. Mr.
Wright stated his reason for the actor
taken, was Mr.. Buttram had no righ
to appoint the successor of Committe
man Waters, deceased. The question
of Edmundson's successor was thel
sprung and before MIR. Wright coult
get the floor to nominate man, Mr.
Montgomery introduced the followin!
resolution:
"Be it resolved, That instead of thi
committee electing a committeeman
that we refer the matter to the count,
executive committee Of Blount count,
requesting them to call mass conven