New-York tribune., 1908-03-26
FOUGHT FOR AN HOUR
TENNESSEE CONVENTION.
Pitched fattie Betzceer Opposing
Republican Factions.

Nashville, Tenn. March 25-Republicans of
Tennessee assembled this morning for a state
convention, and tonight black eyes skinned
heads and bruised faces testify to the rioting
that marked the gathering in the hall of the
House Of Representatives. In the list of those
hurt is Chairman Newell Sanders of the State
Executive Committee. While he suffered no
serious injury he presented a sorry picture when
he emerged from the struggle between the two
factions supporting the interests of Con-
gresham W. p Brownlow, the other those of
H G Evans. ex-Conmissioner Of Pensions. The
fight lasted FOR hour.
The Brownlow forces wanted w J. oliver. of
Knoxville. for national committeeman, while the
Evans supporters favored the candidacy of Con-
gressrnan y. W. Hale for that place Incl
dentaily Richard Austin is a candidate for Con-
gress against Hale.
BY force OF numbers Brownow, Oliver Austin
and their followers took and held the hall. They
nominated Ernest Coldwell for Supreme Court
Justice and John Robertson and r. E. Robinson
for judges of the Court of Civil Appeals.
Jesse L Rogers D. {. Swab. Jesse NJ. Little
ton and II 3. Anderson were chosen delegates
at-large TO the national convention. For electors
T A. Lancaster and Raymond b Harrison were
named
The convention commended Taft. Hughes.
Fairbanks Cannon and Foraker. making no spe-
cific Endorsement for President.
The policies of President Roosevelt We're in
dorsed. and the "pernicious activity of federal
officeholders' was strongly condemned The
olutions also instruct for Oliver for national
committeeman and urge the state committee to
call a primary to nominate candidate for Gov
ernor
The state committee was reorganized and the
secretary Of the convention was instructed 10
communicate with the Evans faction and sub
nit a proposal 70 lay the claims of the rival
factions before the people in primary, the TX
pense Of which W J. Oliver offered TO pay
The Evans and Hale adherents held no con-
yention. but say they viii get out a ticket to-
morrow
The BrownIow and oliver forces entered the
convention hail shortly after o'clock this morn
ing They found : few guards, placed by the
state committee but elected them without
trouble. They held the hall until the assembly
hour. and then Chairman Newell Sanders. an
Evans adherent. not being present, they organ
ized without him
Hardly had the chairman. ". L. Davis Of
Claiborne. raped for order before the support
e-s OF Evans. Sanders and Hale charged, with
football tactics. for the rostrurl- Before oLl-
ver's followers could get together, Sanders had
reached the platform and was calling the con-
vention 70 order again He did not get far be
fore the Oliver forces recovered. Then, back
ward and forward. the struggling masses surSed,
Sanders being the centre around which the
storm ragged most furiously. Sdnders's guards
could stem the oIrush- aIe=he was torn from
their grasp HIS coat and hat gone his shirt
split and tattered. and even his trousers disar-
ranged, Sanders was lifted from his feet and
carried out on q veranda. where he was released
While this was going on fights innumerable were
il progress in the hall Then the police arrived
and order vas restored. During the struggle K.
T. Cameron. Of Chattanooga. d Brownlow ad-
horant is said to have broken foIr folding chairs
over the head Of & negro delegate.
With the police present the Oliver and Brown
low delegates went into convention, the Evans
delegates offering no further interference than
wells and ieers al the speakers