The comet. (Johnson City, Tenn.) 1884-1916, 1907-07-25
POLITICAL OUTLOOK.
5. NJ. Chambliss Gives His Observations.
BELIEVES GOV. PATTERSON AS STRONG
AS HE EVER WAS.
Does Not Commit Himself to the Governor,
But Says PattersOn'S Strength Is Un-
dereStimated and That His Record
As Governor Has Been Good.


But Says PattersOnS Strength Is Un-
dereStimated and That His Record
As Governor Has Been Good.
A Chattanooga News reporter called
on Hon Chambliss in his law office and
asked him for a statement as he sees
the situation in democratic politics In
Tennessee today. Mr.. Chambliss is
one of the well-known lawyers of Ten
nessee and takes a keen interest in
dem mocratic politics. He was strong
supporter of Hon. John I. Cox in the
Patterson Cox fgt and says Cox made
one of the best governors the State
ever had.
Mr.. Chambliss has has Just returned
from Nashville and trip to Knoxville
aud has good knowledge of the polit-
zeal situation. In his statement he
treats the situation from the standpoint
)f good democrat and neither oppos-
Oh Gov. Patterson nor booms Senator
Oarmack, so often mentioned as Gov.
Patterson 8 probable opponent. Dis
cussing the situation Mr.. Chambliss
said:
"Whiie | am only looker.on at the
game of politics, 1 take natural inter
est in it, such as does every man who
has the welfare of his state and bis po-
itical party at heart.
The gubernatorial situation is at
present of paramount interest. 0rdi-
narily the almost invariable custom Of
Indorsing an administration by sec
ond term would preclude any great
amount of interest in the next state
election, bat it seems that there is q
strong sentiment on the part of large
proportion of the politicians, as we'll as
the people, to depart from democratic
usage in this instance and make every
effort to defeat the denomination of
Gov. Patterson. Many and varied rea-
sons are given for this sentiment; but
when sifted down to its last analysis
am convinced there has been nothing
which has occurred since the inaugur-
alton OF Gov. Patterson which alone
would cause this disaffectiOn. While
40 man can hold the Office through the
session of the legislature and make the
various state appointments encumben
upon him and come out of it all unscar.
red and without enemies and criticism
am convinced that Gov. Patterson &
record as governor would not alone
condemn him or render him the object
Of such strong and active opposition at
seems to exist in the state.
cit is true that he supported the
Memphis charter bill, and in doing &c
he went contrary to the wishes anC
Judgment of large proportion of tn,
people of the state; but this was a local
: measure, supported by the local repre-
sen natives Gov Patterson was a citi
zen of Memphis, and, after all, the res
OF the state had no very great concern
IN the matter. 1t is true charges of
serious nature were. made against til,
governor in connection with the pass
: age of this bill, but none Of them hav,
been proven; and it is so common t,
make them at such times that no seri
GUS import is attached to them by tn
people
: appointments have been criticised
AS they always are, aud many disap
pointed where one is pleased, but j
the result in Hamilton county is an,
evidence of what has been elsewhere,
cannot see that the state has gon
"hell-wlnding" yet awhile. W. B
Royster, A. Q. Glenn and Willar
Springfield are as good an electio
commission as any man could have sc
lected (conceding that the governor sc
ected them, and certainly had th
J. choice of either warning faction bee
appointed there would have been
throwing of something besides boquet'
1t is not perhaps out of place to Ca
J. attention to the additional fact that n
better selection for superintendent {
public instruction-the most imp portar
v office in the gift of the governor-coul
have been made than Robert L.. Jonel
of Hamilton county.
"No, l have not have been over til
"a state to any extent and cannot kno
the general sentiment with certaint,
but have spent some time in Nasl
vile and Knoxville among those who:
business it is to keep in touch with I'll
Il political situation, and 1 think l a
right when | say that the opposition
Gov. Patterson that now exists woul
\ be no less bitter and active, no matt,
" what course he might have persude
since his election, short of handiI
n over to his enemies the reigns OF go
ernment. | am sure this is Just ii
same opposition that fought him f
the nomination and accorded him hal
hearted support tif any during b
campaign against Hon. H. Clay Eva
and, while / was opposed TO Go
Patterson's nomination, and cam
say that favor his reelection, it
Take the Postmaster's Word for it.
= Mr.. f. NJ. Hamilton postmaster
ID Cherryvale, Ind, keeps also sto
of general merchandise and pate