The comet. (Johnson City, Tenn.) 1884-1916, 1906-02-15
DEATH BLOW TO BOSS RULE.
DrOwnlOw's Home County Turns Against
Him - Executive Committee Goes on
Record Against 0ne-Man Power
Which uoo ham ou,. ligoI Do.t,


Him Executive Committee Goes on
Record Against 0ne-Man Power
Which Has DemOrtlized Party
Washington county republicans went
on record against boss rule and for H.
Clay Evans for governor. The repub.
lican executive committee spoke in en-
phatic terms. More than ordinary
significance is attached to the action of
the committee, because this is Con"
gresham Walter P. Brownlow's home
county, and Washington is considered
the strongest Brownlow county in tho
district.
The ''little boss" has always dictated
the action of the committee until this
year and the sudden change has Great
ed q great stir throughout the entire
district.
The committee met in the courthouse
at JonesbOro last Saturday and there
was a crowd to see what action would
be taken. Seventeen out of eighteen
districts were represented and the &C.
tion Of the committee is thought to be
a fair index TO the general feeling to-
ward Brownlow throughout the entire
district. The committee named Feb.
ruary 9th as the date for the county
convention.
1t is thought that the people of this
section are tired of Mr.. BrownIow's
radical ruling, and, although it is ad-
mitted that he has accomplished much
for this section of the state, it is believ-
ed that his days Of supreme power are
over even in his home county.
RESOLUTIONS IN FULL.
Whereas, recognizing that factional
issues are embittering and dividing the
democratic party in Tennessee, we be-
lieve the time is propitious for an ag-
gressive policy on the part Of our par
ty. Under proper leadership, delegat-
ed by the party as a whole, but in con-
tempt of the one-man-power which has
hitherto nominated our gubernatorial
candidate and outlined the policy of
inaction and unaggressiveness, we feel
sure that we can elect our candidate
for governor. All along have we been
subservient to boss rule and political
despotism. Our party growth has been
retarded until partial paralysis has set
in. We are face to face with the prob.
lem as to whether we prefer supineness
and inaction to party fealty and success;
whether the thousands of republicans
in this state who have followed their
flag to both victory and defeat shall as
sumo their inherent rights and the
power that within them exists to con-
troll the policies of their party, promote
its interests and nominate its candidate;
or whether these rights shall be disre-
garded and ANONYMOUSLY surrendered
to political despotism which has con.
tributed to our disgrace and defeat in
in the past, and if suffered to exist Tn.
defeated will work out our eternal un,
doing in the future. In the face Of
these conditions we believe there il
one man, and one man only, in thil
state under whose leadership we car
achieve victory. Hon. II. Clay
Evans, of Chattanooga, of unqualified
ability and unassailable integrity ant
of undoubted party loyalty, would
command the support of an overwhelm
: ing majority of Tennessee voters
Therefore, he it
, Resolved, That we, the executive
! com mittee of the republican party O
Washington county, earnestly petition
Hon. H. Clay Evans to become GU
t candate for governor. We pledge hir
our unqualified support and we cal
upon our fellow republicans through
out the state to come to our aid in sc
. Letting his candidacy, and we assur
8 him OF our earnest and unalterable dc
termination to make him our standard
e bearer in the coming state campaign
It is further ordered that these resolu
O tions be spread of record and that COZ
les be sent to our county aud state pr
pers for publication.