The comet. (Johnson City, Tenn.) 1884-1916, 1906-08-23
FRANK AVENT IS NOMINATED
As Democratic Candidate for Railroad Com
miSSiOner-State Committee Also
Invites Bryan to Tennessee.

ulSnlOnS Oh Oho AOuIIu DuilOb' AhO
candidates balloted for were: r. P. Nc =
CLAIM, Wilson county; NJ. d. Small
nan, Warren; Frank Avent, Ruther-
lord; E. G.. Toilet, Cumberland; Fl. G..
Evans, Maury, and G. @. Atkinson, >
Montgomery. p. P. Pickard, Cheat
ham county, and Frank Lynch, Frank
lin, withdrew from the contest,
Resolutions we're adopted inviting ,
Bryan to come to Tennessee to speak
during the campaign; endorsing him as
the presidential candidate in 1908; also
inviting Senators Carmack and Frazier
and Gov. Cox to take the stump for the
ticket this fall. In addition, resolu-
ton was adopted directing the chair
man Of the committee to appoint a COM
mittee to attend the Bryan reception at
New York and to invite Mr.. Bryant to
speak in this state.
Gov. Cox was singled out for special
honors, the chairman being directed to
appoint him one of the members of the
committee to wait on Mr.. Bryan and
inform him of the action of the state
committee. Ex-Govs. Taylor and Nc
Millin were also invited to take the
stump in democracy's cause.
Some OF the members who argued for
convention based their plea on the
ground that the party could then take
action upon matters not before the last
convention and which would tend to
promote the party welfare. On the
other hand, one of the members of the
majority faction argued that if con-
vention was held at this time there was
danger that it would be captured by
the crowd that is trying to defeat the
nominees, and that in such event reso-
lutions would be adopted and pro-
gram carried out which would tend fur
Their to complicate matters and embar
rass the ticket.
After deciding to make the nomina-
ton there then arose a difference Of
opinion as to the time to make it, the
Cox members of the committee favoring
postponement, and argued that the
call did not cover nomination at this
time, but that the committee had been
called together for the purpose of con-
sidering plans for the nomination. The
committee, however, acting upon the
signed agreement of the candidates, by
vote Of fourteen to five, decided that
the nomination should be made at that
time.
WHITES RESOLUTION.
Before the committee met it looked
like there would be anything but har-
mony, it being understood that J.
Frank White. the first district member,
had a resolution in his pocket, declaring
in favor of convention on the ground
that the committee was without author
ity to nominate; and for the further
reason that the party should be given
an opportunity to declare in favor OF
tariff reform; to endorse William J.
Bryan; to state its position clearly and
unequivocally on the temperance issue,
and to declare against race track gam
bling.
This resolution had been typewriter
and it would have caused long and
bitter fight between the factions of the
party had it been presented. 1t is I'M
derstood, however, that members Of the
minority discouraged the introduction
Of the resolution and for this reason it
was not presented.
In the course of speech to motion
to endorse Bryan, Gen. Brandon de-
clared that the Nebraskan was nearer
to the hearts of the people Of Tennessee
than any other democrat, was the I'M
questioned choice of the party of the
state for president, and closed by pre-
dieting his nomination and election.
, The committee also by unanimous
vote demanded joint debate between
u Messrs. Patterson and Evans and di-
, rected Chairman Morrow to at once be-
gin negotiations with the republican
, chairman for the arrangement of series
OF joint discussions. The question of
the time for opening the campaign was
not discussed, but it was the concensus
of the members that the opening gun
be fred September Is.
Resolution expressing sympathy with
} Mr.. Patterson on the death of his wife,
and also expressing the sorrow of the
} committee in the recent death of Rail.
) road Commissioner Mckenzie were
: adopted. The committee then went
into secret session.
SPIRITED DISCUSSION.
, + There was an animated discussion
|, during the secret session over the meth
81 cd for making the nomination. All of
the candidates except William P. Nc
Clure signed statement agreeing that
the committee might act at this time,
! and also agreeing to abide by the &C.
! ton of the committee whatever course
3 might be taken. There was spirited
3 discussion during the secret session OF
+ the committee as to the proper manner
/ in which the nomination should be
: made.
1 The Cox minority on the committee,
composed of the members from the first
, FIVE districts of the state, generally ia