The comet. (Johnson City, Tenn.) 1884-1916, 1907-07-25

UudJ no may hshlu uol6dt bu6 bhm0 up
position. He certainly is not in a
weaker position, it seems to me, than
when he made his firstra With the
prestige of a successful campaign and
election, the election machinery of the
state, the administration appointees
aud the democratic precedent on his
side, | cannot brush him aside, as do
many of my friends and his enemies,
as dead one that anybody can beat. II
| mistake not those who say these
things are the same men who made
light of his candidacy some months
ago.
"This is not a fight against
Gov. Patterson personality but
struggle between two factious of the
democratic party, in other words, more
question of who will control the
organization in the state, popularly
called the machine than who will
make the best governor for the state.
"In saying all this OF course do not
lose sight of the claim that many who
we're Patterson's friends are new his
enemies, but / think that the number
Of these is overestimated. 1t is gener
ally true that the opposition to any one
or anything makes noise out of pro-
portion to its size.
1t is also true tnat there are many
who oppose Gov. Patterson because of
his alleged drinking proclivities, and
one hears wild slories, the truth OF
which it is hard to believe. OF course
any man can ruin mis- character by his
failure to properly guard his private
life, and to this extent Gov. Patterson g
future lies with him. There is dis
position to overlook the past when a
man puts it behind him (assuming that
there is past), and if the governor
does this, / cannot but believe that the
opposition on this ground will not
alone defeat him.
any conclusion then is that no eff
cial act of Gov. Patterson's has lessen.
ed his chances OF lection. That the
backbone of the opposition to him is
the same it has always been-and thai
while he may not be renominated, il
he does nothing from now on in public
or private life to condemn him in the
eyes of the people, he will be at least q
very formidable candidate.
"Now, word as to his opposition
Will it be Carmack? Frankly, l hop,
not-for Carmack's 8 sake as we'll as fol
other reasons. Carmack's sphere il
the senate. In the field of oratory an(
debate he is almost unequaled. He il
, peerless master of forensic art, an(
, as statesman and national represen
tative he can shine with increasing lus
J ter, but do not think he can add al
inch to his stature as governor. Blu
> will it be forced upon him? 1t tlooks s.
} now. 1t will, | believe, be a mistak
on his part to be candidate, but
. may be fatal to his future prospect
for him to refuse.
: PERSONALLY would rather see Car
: mack decline to run and bide his tim
{ to be returned to the senate, as | be
, lieve he surely will be- Then ther
q are plenty of other good men to selec
@ from to make the race, if one is to b
: made. Attorney General Chas. I
Q Gates or Judge II. NJ. Barton woul
0 either of them make an ideal governo
: il elected, and could either of thel
g defeat Gov. Patterson for the nomina
ton if he is to be defeated at all.
|. "Now, | don't intend this as q prt
!. phetic utterance, nor an endorsemel
# of Gov. Patterson, but merely a ran
v BILE over the political pasture, and
l sort of gentle hint, as go, of thing
@ potential. Chattanooga News.