The comet. (Johnson City, Tenn.) 1884-1916, 1905-09-28

the Nashville American of the 9th OF
January last, declared that the power
lodged in the bonds of the Governor to
appoint Election Commissioners of the
State, was arbitrary, and that it was
too much power to place in the hands
Of one man. He went as far as Mr..
Patterson has gone and even further,
because he advocated that if the power
to appoint Election Commissioners is
taken out of the hands of the Governor,
they should be elected by the Senate,
while Mr.. Patterson favors their cleo
ton by the people.
Such papers as the Chattanooga
Time, the Nashville American, the
Nashville Banner, the Knoxville Sen
tinel, The Commercial Appeal, and
many of the leading weekiies of the
country press have taken a position
in the past against the power of the
Governor to appoint Commissioners of
Elections, and have inveighed, in no
uncertain terms, against dishonest
elections in the State.
Mr.. Patterson, in his statement to
the public, was careful to say that the
Republicans, on account of their record
in the past, were not in position to
attack the election laws, and that the
reform must come within the Demo
cratic party. He is making his fight
inside the party ranks, and is entitled
to just and faia treatment on the part
of his fellow Democrats. From the
signs all over the State, he is receiving
the hearty Endorsement of the people,
not only in his position on this ques
ton, but on other questions which he
has raised in the campaign.
1t is an unreasonable and foolish
agument to say the Democratic party
or the people who compose the Demo
cratic party, must sit idly by and SEE
fraud and corruption stalk abroad il
the guise of Democracy without pro
test. Mr.. Patterson has selected the
only proper and Democratic course il
making his fight in the party for iti
Ipurifcation. The Democratic party
depends upon honesty, and Is based
upon the peoples voice..
| Do those who attack Mr.. Patterson'E
position on the election laws ever stoI
to think what would be the result if 6
| Republican Governor were elected il
| Tennessee? Under the present law, il
such should be the case, he could
appoint two negro Republicans as
- ton G commissioners in every coun
| ty in the State, if he so desired. This
feature of the case is seemingly ignored
| by the machine enemies of Mr.. Patter
son, who are seeking to encompass hiE
defeat by unfair and unjustifablt
attacks.
| If Mr.. Patterson's ideas in regard tC
the election laws are carried out, and
the power to appoint Commissioners o.
Registration is taken out of the hands
of the Governor and placed in the
hands of the people, then if Republi
can Cover should be elected, the Dem
J ocratic voters of the counties tina
would be most affected by change il
administration could still control thei
local affairs by electing their own Com
missioners. AS it now stands, the,
would have no control whatever unde
Republican administration, just a
they now have no control over q Dem
ocratic administration.
Be fair, gentlemen, and let the con
test for Governor be waged upol
decent grounds, and let the people o
the State select that man who is worth
lest, and who best represents the tru
interests of the Democratic party.