The comet. (Johnson City, Tenn.) 1884-1916, 1906-04-19
The Dark Horse Joke.

Inv bNih AiuA " VVhCs
The dark horse talk emanating from
the bivouac of the dead is not likely to
deceive anybody. John l, Cox has been
fairly beaten by Malcom r, Patterson,
and he will receive scant encourage
ment in his attempt to involve his an
tagonist in his own ruin. The people
of Tennessee are fair minded and JUS
tice-loving. They are able to contrast
the campaign of OK with that of Pat
terson and can tell a hawk from a hern-
shaw.
Cox. Cox stands for nothing in the
campaign except the machine. He
promises no betterment of existing con
ditions, and he guarantees no business
administration of state affairs, as he
has abandoned the duties of his Office
and devoted his time and attention to
getting up fabulous contests. He has
INDUCED in some very robust mud
singing, doubtless under the spur of
the machine, but not once has he sue
ceeded in making any Of the mud ad
here to the record or character of Gen.
Patterson.
Patterson, on the contrary, has been
making a fight in the interest of the
people. He has made many sacrifices
in order to make the race for governor.
He started out by COUGHING his lance
at the machine, with Cox in charge
thereof He has made one of the most
wonderful political fights ever wit
messed in Tennessee. He has made it
single-handed, having no class or in
terest behind him. Neither the anti
saloon league nor the liquor interests
have been allied with him The corpo-
rate and railroad influence has been
reputed to be for Cox. Whether this
suppositior is correct or not it is GER
tain that this influence has not been
exerted for Patterson. Patterson has
had no machine behind him, and about
all the organization he has had he has
had he has carried around under his
hat. Very nearly 900 delegates have
) been instructed for him, Of which, how
ever, it is alleged that Cox contests
sver 200 This fact alone has disguised
. the people with Cox and made friends
t for Patterson, who has contested only
= % votes. The two principal planks in
Patterson's platform are in line with
democratic principle and in further
ance of the interests of the people. j
It he is elected governor, and succeeds
in abolishing the appointment of cleo
q ton commissioners by the governor
he will deprive himself of an importan
source of strength and will strike dowl
the machine he might have built up il
y his own interest. Such a voluntar!
p surrender of power ought to comment
! him to all democrats who believe in tn
Jeffersonian doctrine of home rule
? His war on the back assessment imam,
E has been made in the interest of tn
ie commercial classes, who are entitled t
.. see definite end of their tax paying
4 The only mudslinging done by Patter
son has been done by proxy, as it were
for he has simply called attention t
81 the mud thrown by the Legislature c
ot Tennessee at Mr.. Cox and has pointe
k out the fact that the mud has stuck.
N Patterson has his fight won. He ha
made much needed campaign, and hi
; success means the dawning of bette
III era, more in harmony with the trad
in tions Of democracy. No one is entitle
T. to reap the benefit of his victory excer
n himself. He has performed q gret
:, service to Tennessee by smashing tn
:" Machine, and it would be the rankel
K injustice to give the spoil Of battle
g. some one who has skulked in the res
1e or pouted in his tent. This dark-horf
idea of course has originated with thof
who are behind Cox, and who, seein
h that he is defeated, are casting abor
for some one else to save them the
70 jobs and their pickings. But the sus
s. gestion will not pass muster. Patterso
w dominates the situation, and he wi
as have 800 votes in the convention, in a
= likelihood, and no dark horse will |
admitted without his consent. I'll
0' politicians might as we'll prepare to g,
at into the band wagon.-Commercia
Appeal.