The times., 1899-12-28

thirty-tWo years standing. He is one of
the clearest- headed and most upright men
ever knew. In his entire career he has
made few mistakes and none Of a serious
| nature. unless this City National Bank
transaction is to be attributed to him
Knowing him as I do, [ cannot believe
that he is responsible for it,"
Spirited @enaforInI Contcst.-Botb
political elements Of the Tennessee con
tiugent in Washington are thus early dis
playing unusual interest in the Senatorial
contest in their State Senator Turkeys
| positive decliRation to stand for reelection
has complicated the Democratic S tuation
more than is ordinarily the result of such
course. Further complication is threat
! ened by the prospective entrance in the
contest Of Chief Justice Snodgrazs of the
/ Tennessee Supreme Court. This gives
promise OF stubborn triangular struggle.
| with Representative F. ". Carmack and
Gov. Benton McMllin the other par
ties. The chief issue involved aside from
| the personal merits OF the trio. is expan-
| sion Judge Suodgrass is said to be an
ardent expausionist, while Mr. Carmack
| has frequently declared Of late that he lis
| honestly and TO the profoundest depths Of
/ his sentiments opposed to the principle as
we'll as the present status and practice of
| expansion Governor McMillin has not
been heard from on the question since
Judge Snodgrass rumored candidacy made
IL direct issue. IL is considered the vital
issue OF the contest by all Tennessee ans.
I The result therefore, depends upon how
the Democrats. will view expansion when
they go to the polls next November to vote
for the Legislators who are TO elect Sena-
tor Turkeys successor. 1t is not expecte5
that the contest will be materially affected
by the declarations Of the Democratic Ma
tiOnal Convention as to expansion. The
issue is being made so square-cut in their
State in the Senatorial contest, say Ten
| nesseeans in Washington, that practically
no influence will be felt from the attitude
of the party as defined by the national
managers. The Republicans expect the
fight to engender such Democratic faction
alism that they will be enab ed 70 carry
the Legislature by quietly trading the ma
tional ticket If this should happen the
struggle for the senatorsbip would prob
ably be between Pension Commissioner
Evans and Representative Brownlow.
Trouble in observation-disclosures Demo-
Gratis in Washington are getting consider
ably stirred up over recent proposition
! by Governor Stephens 10 call an extra ses-
sion of the Legislature in January for
the purpose Of enacting a law imposing
a heavy tax on franchises. The Legisla-
ture is Democratic by a safe majority In
both branches but as the question in dis
pute was brought before the Assembly
in regular session last winter and was
defeated, il is regarded as being fraught
only with harm to the party on the eve
of a Presidential election. Ii the proposed
measure should fail after the Legislature
had been called together by the Demo
cratic Governor for no other purpose than
to urge Its adoption, II is feared that a
very large and lusty element would be
alienated from the party in the election
next autumn The national ticket might
not suffer so badly, say Missouriaus in this
city, as the State ticket would. On the
other hand if Governor Stephens recon-
mendatiOn should be enacted into Law, it
is stated that all the corporate interests in
the State would be so heavily borne down
upon, that in self defence they would have
to combine against the Democracy at the
polls and drive the party from power in
the State In view OF this threatening
Washington have communicated with the
nestly urging him not to call an extra ses-
sion of the Legislature.
Senator Vests Quandary-A close
friend of Senator Vest is responsible for
the statement that the distinguishes Mis-
sourian is perhaps more sorely distressed
over the Quay matter than is any other
member OF the Senate. Senator Vest and
Colonel Quay are as far apart on all politi-
cal questions as 1t is possible to be- but