The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1904-02-13
How Patterson
Missed His Seat
Career of Mr.. Patterson.

der which he retired from public life.
Mr.. Patterson was a native Of AID
bama, and served in Alabama regiments
in the civil war.
After the close of strife he settled
first in Florence. Ala, but later re-
moved to Memphis. where he practlcec
law and was successful In 1872 he
was elected 10 the lower house of the
Tennessee Legislature. and in 1888 was
am elcctor on the Democratic ticket. He
was n Democrat Of the old school and
refused to accept the radical views Of
some of the members of his party. VINO
finally obtained control of the organi-
cation. and he was forced to retire 10
private life.
Mr.. Patterson came to Washington
as a member OF the Fifty-second Con-
gress, fbe Congress elected In 1888,
which was so Overwhelmingly Demo
cratic. He was returned to the Fifty
third Congress, and was a member OF
the Elections Committee which handled
the contest brought by J. j. O'Neill.
Democrat, against Charles f. JOY, Re
publican, from one OF the St. Louis dis
tricts.
O'Neill had been a member of Con-
gress for several terms. and in the cleo
ton of 1892 had been defeated by Mir.
JOY or the face Of the returns by sixty
seven votes. Mr.. O'Neill made con-
test. however. and the case was de-
cided in his favor Mr.. Patterson took
prominent part in determining the
case. and as "A Democrat espoused the
cause of O'Neill which resulted in the
unseating of MIR. JOY. Mr.. JOY has
never forgotten this action by tie
House, and he soon had an opportunity
to get revenge upon Mr.. Patterson,
who he believed was largely respon-
sible for having gnseated him.
Mr.. Joy Waits.
The next, the Fifty-fourth Congress.
was Overwhelmingly Republican, and
/ Mr. JOY came back to Congress. as did
| Mr. Patterson. Two years later the
silver question became the issue. Mr..
Patterson, who was a great aomirer Of
! President Cleveland. and an advocate Of
the gold standard, repudiated Bryan and
the silver plank of the Democratic plat
/ form. but nevertheless insisted upon
running for Congress. He was nomi-
mated by the gold wing Of the party in
Memphis. His opponent was Mr.. Car
mack. the present junior Senator from
/ Tennessee. Mr.. CarmaclS had p ma
] Jority of the votes. and the certificate of
election was issued TO him. Mr.. Patter-
son. however. contested.
This time the House was again Re
/ publican and Mr. Patterson's views on
the money question, which was then
paramount. coinciding with those Of the
Republican party, the majority of the
Elections Committee decided in his favor
and declared in its report that he was
/ entitled 10 the seat in the House held
/ by Mr.. Carmack.
! The minority reported in favor Of Mr.
1 Carmack Inasmuch as all members Of
the House cannot investigate the merits
/ of an election contest. it is usual for
each side TO accept the report of its
partisans.
Arranged to Go Home.
Mr., carmack expected. in view of the
.report Of the majority Of the cofnmittee.
| that be would be unseated. II Is even
said that as the day for taking the vote
/ in the House drew near he packed up
HIS effects and prepared TO leave Wash
ington and return to Memphis, II Is
said that he went so far as to telegraph
his wife in Memphis the train upon
which he would return home
on the other hand Mr.. Patterson. conf
dent of gainlAg the seat. wired his wife
to come on TO. Washington. that he was
to be seated. Neither had counted upon
the lotion Of Charlie Joy with his long
memory. JOY had grievance, and he
saw his opportunity to get revenge. 1t
did not make any difference TO. him, as
partisan matter. whether Patterson
or Carmack held the seat. as both were
/ Democrats. but as a personal matter
IL did make a heap Of difference. He
didn't have any particular love for
Carmack, whom he did not know, but
he did cherish a grudge against Patter-
son. whom he held to be largely re-
sponsibe for unEeating him in the Fifty
third Congress.
AS the time came to take the vote
| Charlie" JOY proceeded 10 get busy"
He found number Of RefAblicans who
didn't care a rap who was seated-Car-
mack or Patterson. These he induced
20 remain away when the vote was
taken, and to fail to arrange for pairs.
There We're a few others 10 whom he
stated his case, and who agreed TO
stand with him against Patterson. and
in favor Of Carmack. for whom it was
certain the Democratic minority would
vote solidly. because there was nothing
else for the minority to do except to
accept the face OF the returns.
Carmack's Speech.
In the consideration OF the case Mr..
Carmack. concluding the argument on
the Democratic side5 made an eloquen;
and in many respects remarkable speech
I'm his own defense; John Allen of Mis-
sissippi added his humor to the disad-
vantage OF Mr.. Patterson, and the
| House was aroused. The Republican
majority was not large and when the
vote was taken JOY and his handful of
followers voted with the Democrats,
and the result was that the majority
report in favor OF Mr.. Patterson was re
jecIed and Mr.. Carmack was declared
entitled to his seat, much to the sur
prise OF that gentleman and his friends,
and greatly TO the disappointment Of
| Mr.. Patterson and his followers.
Then. so II is stated. two other tele-
grams were sent to Memphis. Mrs. Car
mack received one. telling her TO come
On TO Washington, that her husband
had been retained in Washington as a
member OF the House, and the other
was received by Mrs. Patterson, advis-
ing her that her husband was coming
| home-that he was declared not to be
a member of Congress.
Mr.. Patterson then retired to private
life, but lost none OF the admiration
and respect which the people Of Ten
nessee and the South had for him by
reason Of his defeat n 1g10 Mr. Car