The commercial. (Union City, Tenn.) 190?-193?, 1902-06-20
STAND BY YOUR OWN PARTY.

4 met at the Palace Hotel in UnioI
; City last Friday to select an indie
|: pendent candidate to oppose d. j
Caldwell, the Democratic nominee
in the race for Attorney General
: There are some men probabl,
whose political record would hav'
entitled them to place on thi
ticket, but for Alex n. Moore, ,
man who has always stood square
ly by the party organization anC
whose Democracy has always beer
unquestioned, a man whom we es
TEEN as one of The Commercially
best friends, to accept the position
as an independent candidate at tbs
hands of gentlemen, whose preju-
dice against the party nominee has
led them to withdraw from the &C
ton of the convention and to seek
a candidate who would ieopardize
his Democracy to accomplish, il
possible, the defeat of Caldwell
and that portion of the Democratic
ticket, we are indeed surprised
and disappointed. In writing
of a prejudice against the nomina-
ton of d. j. Caldwell as q candi-
date for Attorney General we do
so because we know Of no legiti-
mate cause or grounds for COM
plant against the action of the
party in the selection and nomina-
ton of Mr.. Caldwell. The DIS
trict and county conventions we're
held in pursuance to the call, and
in turn delegates selected to attend
the Dyersburg convention. Pro.
visions were made for such num-
Der Of delegates as might be
deemed advisable, and hence a
large number of the friends of Mr..
Caldwell were named upon the
delegation from Obion who did
him the honor TO attend the CON
yention--a large and representa-
tive body of business and profess
sionaI gentlemen from his home
county.
Itis true in the county conyen-
ton there were two or three con
testing districts. upon which it is
claimed by the committee on Gre
dentiaIs the evidence showed that
the Caldwell delegates we're enti-
tied to be seated. Even admitting,
for the sake of demonstrating who
was the choice of the Democrats
of this Judicial Circuit for Attor-
ney- General, that these contests
we're not properly adjudicated and
conceding them to the opposition,
upon the face of the official returns
held by the chairman of the cir
cult, nj, M. Marshall, at Dyersburg, |
Dock Caldwell without these was
the strongest candidate, with a plu-
rality of votes, and entitled to more
consideration than any other Dem
ocrat in the circuit-without CUES
ton the choice of the Democracy
as nominee for Acknowledgement.
We do not intend to reflect upon
the committee on credentials in the
ObiOn County convention. They
are all honorable gentlemen and
acted upon the evidence presented,
but we want to show that Dock
Caldwell was in the lead leaving
out all contests and doubtful votes
and for the same reason entitled as
the choice of the Democrats of the
circuit to a nomination at their
hands.
AS we heretofore stated, we re
gret exceedingly that of the many
good Democrats Mr.. Moore should |
deem it advisable to accept the
commission Of a body of men OPP
posed to the nomination of a Dem
Ocrat by q Democratic convention.
and announce his intention to I'M
dertake to defeat the will Of the
party as pertains to that election.
We trust he may yet find that he
has made mistake and withdraw
from a race against the party he
has honored for years as few other
Democrats have done, and get into
line again fighting the battles
against the common enemy.
In speaking of the gentlemen of
The committee upon the selection
Of Mr.. Moore as a candidate and
upon those supporting them, we
cast 30 reflection upon any mans
personal honor or integrity, but
The Commercial is simply pursu-
NC a course in the line of duty of
very Democratic newspaper and
,ndeavoring to make plain to our
friends the fact that we do not
wish to shirk any responsibility.
The proprietors of this paper {
re both Democrats-have always +
'een Democrats and by the grace {
# truth and justice we hope al !
Ways TO be found in that organiza- 6
ion whose tenet of faith is a !
Government by the people. of !