The comet. (Johnson City, Tenn.) 1884-1916, 1906-03-22
That Cox Ovation.


1t was heralded far and wide that
Governor John Isaac Cox would speak |
in Pulaski last Mondry. 1t was to be
Cox day-a gala occasion, great ova-
ton to the chief executive of the state.
The day came, the crowd came, aud the
Governor came, but when he went
home he did not say to his campaign
manager, 81 came, l saw, conquered,
He came, and he-saw. That was all,
One of the largest crowds seen in Pulas-
Xxi for many years assembled, Possibly
four thousand people were in town
but not to hear Governor Cox. The
Governor arrived on the morning train
and was met at the depot by ten or
twelve people; he came to the Airing
ton Hotel for dinner, and it was
promptly announced that he would
speak at the Opera House. While the
day was fair, it was rather cold; too
cold for an out of door speech. The
local brass band began to dispense
music on the street in front OF the
Opera House, and for three quarters of
an hour continued while the chief lieu
tenants and reception committed
worked hard and faithfully to get the
people to go up and hear Governor
Cox; plea after plea was made to the
individuals to go up and hear the Gov
ernor, and after three quarters of an
hour the lower floor of the opera house
was only about half full. Then the
Governor came on the stage, and as
many as five people applauded him by
clapping their hands. When it was
found that the people would not come
to the opera house to hear him, Sena
tor Rufus McLaurine came on the stage
and announced that there was large
crowd in town who desired to hear th'
speaker speak, and that he would speal
from the courthouse steps. And th,
r band played on; and played again t,
draw an open air audience, and Obou
six hundred people gathered at tn
south side of the courthouse. Senate
McLaurine introduced the Governor il
, a BETTING manner. When the Cover
8 nor arose there was not murmu
of applause handicap. In te
q minutes after he began to speak nc
: exceeding two hundred and fifty wer
6 present, and after the lapse of thirt
l minutes, by actual count, the audienC
numbered one hundred and ninety-twC
10 and when he closed he had not exceed
: ing seventy-fve people listening
- him although there was an immen'
~ crowd in town. From the beginnir
le of his speech to its close, there was NJ
is ripple of applause; it was worse tha
a. frost to the Governor-the polite
thermometer stood several degre
' belo zero. This was doubtless Il
Is smallest crowd democratic candida
b. for governor ever spoke to in PulasR
is No governor of Tennessee ever +
y ceived such q cold reception at Il
hands of the people of Giles county
Governor Cox received Monday. Pc
sonal appeals were made to men to
ut and hear him. Personal appeals We
We made to men to go and call on him, al
~ ~ he had callers, but as compared to t
r. number who refused to go, they we
IN few indeed. There were more dem
10 Gratis in this town Monday who declar
~ it their purpose to vote against Cox
th the dem ocratic nominee than he b
I'D voters to hear him. First Mond
g, should have been banner Cox day.
&c is a "measly shame" to say it, b
politically speaking, a mighty frost f
at MONDAY. The Governor made |
regular set speech. His voice is pc
for outdoor speaking. He devoted |
speech to q defense of his own reco
ed and to an attack upon Patterson, a
be he made no converts to his cause, lea
or ing, if possible, weaker than when
l Il