Evening star., 1900-06-15
National Committee Decides for the
Brownlow Faction.
BOTH SIDES HEARD At LENGTH
Convention Delegates Are Begin.
ming to Reach Philadelphia.
OTHER CONTESTS HEA

contest by unanimous vote.
The national republican committee was
not called together until 11:30 o'clock today.
Mr. Fessenden again taking the chair. The
contest over the delegation at large from
Tennessee was immeditely taken up, r. s.
Sharp, chairman Of the state executive COM
mittee being recognized to speak for the
contestants bearing the name of Pension
Commissioner Evans.
Mr.. Sharp contended on behalf of the
Evans contestants that they Were prevented
from participating in the state convention
which chose delegates. and that the whole
trouble originated in the state committee
which issued the call. He claimed that the
call designated a date for holding county
conventions, and stated that four conven-
tions had not been regularly held
and claiming delegates should be
elected on the day named. He
also said that previous to the call, the con-
ventions had been held in twenty-five coun-
ties, in eighteen of which instructions had
been given for Evans. Contests ensued,
and at the state convention sufficient
number of BrOwnlow delegates thus chosen
secured control of the temporary organiza-
tion. AS a consequence, the Evans people
held another convention
State Committee acted Arbitrarily.
Mr.. Sharp complained of the action of the
state committee as arbitrary and tyranni-
cal, declaring that never previous to this
time had the state organization attempted
to name the time or place of county con-
ventions.
Never" he said. has the state executive
committee attempted to pass on the rights
Of county delegates to possess voice in
the state convention. or to pass on con-
tests or to make up a temporary roll of
contested or uncontested delegates"
He also charged AIr BIoWnuw with Sc
curing his elevation to the state chairman
ship by unfair means, and said that. after
securing the place. he had neglected the
campaign. bringing upon the party the Sc
verest defeat it had ever suffered. When
the time came fo. the holding of county
conventions looking to the selection of dele
gates to the national convention he assert
ed that the Brown!ow followers attempted
to reverse the practice of thirty years and
to turn the state committee into machine
the Brownlow call for the state convention
departing from all prccedents.
The contest between the two factions was
reviewed throughout. In the state conven-
every Brownlow contestant and had denied
Mr.. Evans seat in the convention hall.
After this the Evans men retired and held
a convention of their own, which they
claimed was strictly in accord with the Gus
toms of the republican party. He asserted
that Mr.. Brownlow had attempted to per
petuate himself in power through the me-
dium of willing and subservient commit
tee appointed by himself" He asserted
that SO long as Mr.. Brownlow should re-
main at the head of Tennessee's political
affairs there would he two organiza tions,
because of Brownlow's ambition.
BrownIow Faction Heard
Mr.. Brownlow and his followers were
by Representative Gibson and
George McHenderson. They dwelt with es-
recial emphasis upon the claim of the
Brownlow delegation to regularity. Our
was the regular convention"
said Mr.. Gibson. 1T was held at the place
designated. and was legally opened and
regularly conducted. whereas the boiling
was held at different place.
was Illegally opened and irregularly con-
Quoted" He also asserted that the Brown
low, or regular convention, was composed of
a large majority of the uncontested dele
gates, whereas the Evans convention con-
sisted almost exclusively of contesting
delegates and their Nashville sympathiz-
erS.'
He also asserted that even II the Evans
contestants had been seated they would
have fallen fiftythree short of a majority
In the state convention. He admitted that
the Evans contestants had been refused
admittance to the convention hall during
the preliminary stages of the state conven-
tion. because of the fear on the part of the
regulars tnat tne DOlttrS would attempt to
seize the hall.
Mr.. Evans in His Own Behalf.
Mr. Evans then spoke in behalf of his
own delegation pleading earnestly for the
recognition of his followers. He said he
was for the republican party, and that he
wanted no factsls He had gone to Nash
Vile for the purpose of advocating har-
mony only to find himself for the first time
in his life ref IpiS to
can convention. He was unable to even get
a seat in the gallery. He controverted Mr..
Gibson's summary of facts. saying it was
not accurate in detail. and criticised the
methods of Mr.. Brownlow preliminary to
the state convention. Mr.. Evans was fire.
quently interrupted by questions from ms m
berS of the committee.
Mr.. BrOwnlow Also Heard.
Mr.. Brownlow followed Mr.. Evans in de-
fense of his own course, contending that it
had been regular and in the interest of the
republican party. He contradcted some OF
Mr.. Evans statements, saying, among other
things, that he had delivered tickets to
every Evans delegate who was uncontested.
Speaking of the contests, he asserted that
Mr.. Evans was himself party to a contest
with the postmaster from his own town.
THAT is false shouted Mr.. Evans rising
from his seat. Both men glared at each
other for a second and both began to ges-
ticulate rather wildly and to talk at once.
There were then loud calls on the part of
members of the committee for the sergeant
alarms. Mr.. Brownlow ended the incident
by taking his seat.
The Delaware Contest.
The settlement of the Delaware contest is
APPARENTLY more difficult than any which the
national committee has to face. The sub
committee has far failed absolutely to
bring about a reconciliation of the factions
and falling in this can only refer the whole
matter to the full committee for determi-
nation. There is no doubt that the stiff DO
stion which the Dupont faction maintains
and the offer of Addicks to compromise
matters has had considerable weight with
the committee.
The proposition to admit both delegates
with half vote was considered and met
with a great deal of favor with a majority
Of the committee. The Dupont Higgins
men, however, say that they will not ac-
acept this, and will not sit in the conven-
ton under such circumstances, and mem
bers of the committee are said to resent
this attitude.
If they will not harmonize among them
selves" said one member of the commit
tee. who has given the matter a good deal
of attention. there is such a thing as
5amming them together, and those who do