The comet. (Johnson City, Tenn.) 1884-1916, 1907-08-01
EVANS FACTION SCORES ANOTHER I'M.
P0RTANT CUP.
Secures the Resignation of COmmitman
Clffe.
Leaving the BrswnlOw Contingent Three
Supporters On State COmmieettee

The Nashville Tennessean says; An.
other big coup has been pulled off by
the Evans contingent Of the G. 0. P.
of Tennessee, John Cliffe, of Franklin,
one of the few BrownloWites on the
State Republican Committee, has re-
signed. His place will be filed by a
loyal disciple of the late candidate for
governor. The resignation was ten
dered some two weeks ago, but the
matter has been kept very quiet ever
since.
When the state committee meets
next, which will be at an early date,
one of the first matters to be presented
to it will be the resignation of Mr..
Oliffe. This makes two vacancies that
the state committee must fill at the en-
suing meeting. In both instances
Evans men will be selected to take the
places of Brownlow members. When
the committee was reorganized a year
gao it was generally estimated that it
a stood fourteen for Evans and six for
Y Brownlow
i This estimate counted the members
g from the First, Seventh aud Ninth
t districts as Brownlow adherents. Since
e that time Emerson Etheridge Bell, Of
a the Ninth district, has died and Johr
: Cliff, of the Seventh district, has re
J. signed. In addition 1t is understood
that John Walker, of the Ninth dis
Is trict has joined the triumphant Evan
l. majority, which if true will make tn
,r committee stand after the vacancie
8. are filed, seventeen for Evans an,
v. three only for Brownlow Not whel
ID twelve members were appointed fror
ID the state at large by the BrowhloN
te machine did that faction have sue
control of the State Committee.
But the most interesting feature c
~ john Cliffs resignation is the reaso
which he gives for his action. Ia hi
nr communication to Chairman Sander
IA about two weeks ago III which the re
W signation was transmitted. Cliff
ID stated that being a relative of Con
ID gresham BroWnl0W aud realizing tina
q he was ont OF tonch with the dominan
! Evans sentiment GU the committee, b
Y deemed it best to promote harmon
tv for him to step down and ont.
- Mr.. Cliffe is related to the erstwhil
easy boss by marriage Several year
ago his sister married James Brown
y, low, a cousin of the First district col
~ gresham John Clitfe has bee
~ prominent in the politics of the Sevent
j." district for some years and has Away
on been aligned with the Brownlow col
zoo tingent There is close political
'ln we'll as personal utilization between I'll
w Cliffe and Brownlow families as a r
~ suit of this marriage, although bo
K Mrs and Mr.. James Brownlow a
dead.
70 It is understood that Clffe has {
II some time realized that the Brownie
til contingent was up against losil
ng proposition, and has practically adm
10 ~ ted that this element had no chance
MI the coming contest with the Eva
for crowd and for that reason has he
no anxious to have nothing more to
"a with the fight. This condition of
fairs finally led him to resign aud it
said that in the contest next year
( will either take no part or will join W
hos the Evans faction. In this event it
~ conceded that Williamson county v
IT, be in the Evans ranks.
of The announcement of Mr.. Cliff
srm resignation will be like bomb thro
mid into the ranks of the anti Eyansit
in The leaders of that faction have
nal suspected anything of the kind, s