The comet. (Johnson City, Tenn.) 1884-1916, 1906-02-08

ton differs in no essential particular
from that of his opponents. Even,
however, if he were the ablest and
most honorable, and the fittest man for
governor, he can hardly be seriously
considered, because he has no chance
for the nomination. He has obtained,
we believe, but two conditional votes
outside of his judicial district, and he
has lost the largest county in his dis
trict. He can not get the nomination,
aud his candidacy serves only to en-
barrass that Of Gen. Patterson, and to
bolster up the waning cause of-Cox,
John l. Cox is notable only as a shifty
and adroit politician. He has served
as revenue agent and as q member of
the state legislature. He is an acci-
dental governor of the state. He has
neither the character nor the calibre of
a governor. His record as revenue
agent has been exposed and condemned
by the Legislature and the press. His
career has been such as to make him
unfit to hold any office of honor or
trust. Nor is his legislative record in
any creditable way noteworthy. He
has occupied, in the general assembly,
position antagonistic TO temperance
Legislation, while on the outside he has
tried to pose as the champion of
temperance. He has never been iden-
titled with any legislation looking to
the welfare of the state. 1t is true he
has announced himself as in favor of
the modification of the election law
advocated by General Patterson, but
we doubt whether he will ever do any
thing in this direction. As measure
of his sincerity in this matter we call
attention to the fact that in a paid
advertisement in the Nashville Ameri-
can he has General Patterson assaied
as one who is denouncing the Demo
cratic party and its measures because
he is in favor Of abolishing the power
of the governor to appoint election
commissioners. This is a peculiarly
Coxite performance. He declares he is
in favor of modifying the election laws
and then has Patterson denounced as
foe of Democracy for advocating the
same modification of the laws that he
Cox tells the people he favors, 1t
would be superhuous to rehearse Cox S
record as revenue agent, as it is
pretty we'll known throughout the
state. His Chattanooga organ, the
Times, informs us that the governor
has in mind a plan to modify the back
assessment law. Possibly So and it is
going to remain in his mind, We do
not imagine that the people will ever
seriously think of electing this insig
nifcant tax-eater to the proud position
of governor of Tennessee.
In General NJ. r. Paterson, the
remaining candidate, we have q man
whose public record is as clean as a
hounds tooth, and whose abilities as a
lawyer, as a prosecuting attorney and
as a congressman are indisputably pre-
eminent. AS attorney general of the
largest county of the state, General
Patterson was o worthy successor of
men like General Wright and General
Peters. He has never since he has
been in public life been identified with
any machine, ring, clique or faction.
When he ran for congress the first
time, the cards were against him, but
by his manly and epen course he pre-
, vailed over his foes. AS congress
man belonging to a minority party be
! has made respectable and honorable
name for himself. He is now making
the race for governor without any
} machine, or organization, relying upon
the merits of his cause and the fairness
+ of the people.
) The contest is between Patterson and
4 Cox, and Democrats must make their
| choice. 1t is a contest between an able
: and conscientious official who has held
e high and honoroble position and q
e small-bore politicion and tax-eater who
b has become governor by grace Of an
Q accident. The people should be under
y no illusions as to the issues in this CON
!. test. Patterson represents honest tax