The comet. (Johnson City, Tenn.) 1884-1916, 1900-08-09
1t Would be Suicidal.

The news reaches us that in several
counties where primaries we're held on
Thursday, the Snodgrass followers were
advised not to participate on the ground
that the state executive committee
would order general primary in the
state, the result of which would be
binding on the democrats in the legis-
lature. There is no reason to suppose
that Mr.. Carmack could not carry such
a primary by fully as large a majority
rs he has secured in the various coun-
ties of the state; but there is also no
reason why he should be required to
win second victory in order to secure
the Endorsement of his party. In quite
n number of counties, candidates for
the legislature avowedly friendly to
Mr.. Carmack have made n canvass
against candidates avowedly unfriend-
ly, and have scored decisive victories.
In many counties tho democratic nom
inees have been instructed to vote for
Mr.. Carmack. Now there is no power
in the democratic party, except the
regular caucus of democratic legislators
that can interfere with these local in
structions, and the functions of the
caucus are clearly defined and under
stood of all men and agreed to by all
candidates. The delegation for in
stance from Shelby county is instruct
ed for Carmack. The democrats of this
county expect their senators and repre-
sentatives to vote for Carmack through
out until the caucus makes choice.
Even if the state committee ordered q
general primary and the result Of this
was unfavorable to Carmack it would in
no way absolve the Shelby county dele
cation from it's obligation to vote for
Carmack AS this is mono of the state
committees business, of course no at
tention would be paid to it. Further
more, any legislator who proved un-
faithful to local instructions would be
forever dishonored among his people,
and would justly be regarded as traitor
to the local democracy. We can not
believe that the state committee will be
guilty of such disastrous folly. Such
course would act as an explosive
throughout Tennessee. 1t would be
absolutely destructive of harmany, and
it would seriously imperil the state
ticket. 1t is thoroughly well under
stood, for instance, that the state COM
mittee is made up of Gov. McMillin s
political friends, and that he can either
promote or discourage the alleged plan
to annoy Mr.. Carmack. He will be
held strictly responsible for whatever
action the state committee takes. If
he suffers this thing to be done, not
only will he make his own reelection
extremely doubtful, but he couldn't be
chosen senator in a hundred years
The governor played good political
tactics when he withdrew from the
senatorial race. He will spoil it all if
he INDUCES in Machiavellian CON
spiracy to poster the victorious candi-
date. Mr. Carmack will be Senator
Turkeys successor in the senate. That
may be regarded as certainty, and
one who makes it difficult for the de-
mocracy of Tennessee to get the sena-
tor they want can expect to have some
business with the democracy of Ten
nessee later on. We are free to say
that we do not believe in Gov. McMil-
lin would sanction a programme sc
suicidal, revolutionary and ungenerous.
-Commercial-A Appeal