The comet. (Johnson City, Tenn.) 1884-1916, 1905-08-17
The Senatorial Fight.

elected Senator of the United States.
The race between Senator Carmack and
ex-Gov. Taylor is destined to be one of
the old picturesqe kinds and we should
like to see both Of them in the Senate.
We have no idea that Mr.. Frazier could
ever have been elected to the Senate
except under favorable conjunction of
circumstances such as brought about
his election. He has no great hold on
the people of Tennessee, such as Tay-
lor and Carmack have. The chances
are that he will never be elected to sue
coed himself. He is too distant, too
icicular, too remote. He has never
touched the hearts OF the people. He
Is totally lacking in that magnetic quail
lily that's YIELDS at will the fierce De
mocraCy.
But the coming race is to be between
E. w. Carmack and Robert Taylor, and
the people must choose between them.
How will they choose? We have a
fondness for both of them. They are
full blooded Tennesseans. "Ned Car
mack" is man of men. He is the
Prince Rupert of Tennessee politics.
Nobody who knows him can help liking
him. In the senate he has shown him
self a foeman worthy Of any mans steel
but the conservatives do not like him.
Yet in the senate Carmack has mellow
ed, and ripened, and he has attained o
national reputation. He is a man Of
fascinating personality, and the posses
sor OF q nimble wit and biting humor.
In print, he reads roughly oftentimes,
but personally there is no more agree
able companion. He has weakened
himself by meddling in small fights.
Had he held himself aloof, there can be
no doubt that his position would now
be impregnable. Carmack is not po-
litical vegetarian. He has the good
ripe blood in his veins born of an ami
NAL diet, and nature has demonstrated
that the meat eater is fighter. The
elephant, the pig, the COW and the
horse are robust animals, but they
don't fight. Carmack does not belong
to this class. 1t is hardly necessary to
say that while he often allies himself
with strait-laced people he is no Puri
tan. If there ever was q man with the
soul of cavalier in him, Ned Carmacl
is such man. And if he should fai
to succeed himself the chances are tina
he will succeed James B. Frazier in tn,
senate.
| Bob Taylor is one of the unknown
quantities in politics. He has reser
voir of magnetism that makes him al
ways dangerous factor in any man
plans. He has the gift of touching tn
hearts of the common people. He tell
story well. He is natural orator
He revives the memories of the past
Not overripe in scholarship, not nue.
of statesman, he has the faculty c
: swaying the plain people, such as wa
possessed only by men like Haskell
Andrew johnson and Tom Marshall
He has never been disturbed by tn
hobgoblin of consistency. Like o.
other politicians, he has changed hi
opinions; but he has much of the mil
of human kindness, the faults we a.
possess, and no desire to be considere
better than his fellows.
Which of These two typical Tennes
scans will win? Will be Prince Ri
pert or Prince Hal? Will 1t be Hotspu
or Uncle Josh Whitcomb? The report
at present seem all to be in favor c
Taylor. Tennessee has an affection 70
him that blurs out any mistakes in hi
official caaeer. At the end of his frs
term as governor there was so niue
Q dissatisfaction with him that it wa
, doubtful whether he would got SEE
a ond term. He had to plead for SEE
ond nomination as sort of vindication
He made mediocre governor and re
tired from Office with the entire cor
: sent of the people. Then came th
Turney-Evans episode, and after tha
Taylor was turned to as the savior G
q the democracy. He was elected, bu
this third term was entirely coloress
He has now been out of Office for
long time, but he still has his wonder
full hold on the people. Will they one
more turn to him and send him to th
! senate? Time alone can tell.
8 Carmack is unquestionably the bette
fighter of the two. He will never Civ
{ up until he has lost the battle beyon
8 recovery. He is no gutter, and he ha
: an excellent organization throughou
Q the state. But on the other hand, wa
a down in their hearts the common pee
pie have a feeling for Bob Taylor, an
he is going to be hard man to beat
At present the surface indications ar
: all for Taylor, but great change
r possible between now and the Ide
that will settle the conflict. Memphi
; Commercial-Appeal.
John G. Chaffin is in the city for