The Columbia herald. [volume] (Columbia, Tenn.) 18??-1935, 1898-02-04
COMMITTEEMAN"
Makes Direct Reply to Mr.. w. X.
stephens Card.


Stephens Card.
EDITOR HERALD: when | sent
my first letter to the HERALD 1
believed / would touch some tender
places, hut had no idea it would
create the storm that it did. l had
no thought that 1 would be called
upon to write again, but since Mr. {.
Stephens has seen proper to max e
reply, and since he has asked some
questions, it becomes necessary for
me to write second time.
Before attempting to answer his
questions, l want to confirm the
statement of the HERALD's editor
(if it needs confirming that he had
nothing whatever to do with the
writing of my article. 1t was not
suggested to me. Mr.. Stephens is
jumping at conclusions. L did my
own thinking, L wrote my own
piece, and l alone am responsible.
Can Mr.. Stephens say as much for
himself?
He asks why did I write. 1
wonder at that question. Did he
read my card, or did some one tell
him about it? 1 begin to think
everything that comes from him is
secondhand. / wrote because
there is widespread dissatis-
faction" l know the cause of this.
L wanted to tell it, and did tell it.
Can the gentleman give better
reason than / gave?
He asks what mean by packed. :"
l mean that scheming candidates
lay plans in their own interest.
They then canvas the committee,
going to their friends first. When
these are interested, together they
work among the other members, and
if they are successful by the time he
meeting is called to order they have
enough votes committed to their
side to carry their point. When
the candidate plans be plans in his
own interest and against the in
tereNt of some other candidate
When the committeeman votes in
the interest of one candidate, he
votes against the interest of
another, and right there he violates
his trust as committeeman. In
using the word packed" l mean
to bring no more serious charge
against committeeman than that in
their zeal and anxiety to do some
thing for their man or men, they
were willing to neglect the best in
terests of the party they are ex-
pected to represent. They have
done this until the party vote has
fallen off to such an extent that the
organization, so far as county offices
are concerned, is we'll nigh de.
strOyed.
Referring to the last meeting, as a
matter of fact Mr.. g. H. Mckay had
no instructions whatever as to how
| wanted my vote cast. But Mr.
Mckay is my next door neighbor
He and | are on most excellent
terms, and he felt at perfect liberty
to use my name in my absence, and
he did exactly right. would have
done the same way by him. Mr..
Parish did exactly right to vote our
district as he was instructed. said
| did not care whether or not my
vote was cast at ALL and 1 say SC
yet. But had certain restrictions
been thrown around the primary
two years ago, had the people been
enthusiastic in support of the nomi-
nees, then l would have had my
man instructed; would have been
straightout, first, last and all the
time, for primary.
Mr.. Stephens asks; "Was Mr.. Nc,
Kay packed?" No sir! He did not
need to be. Mckay never was for a
primary election in his life. He ID
in his glory in a free-for- ll-fight
Mr.. Stephens may be in the same
boat.
Now hope the gentleman is sat
isfied, but if he isn't, / am ready foy
him just any old time.
COMMITTEEMAN.