The comet. (Johnson City, Tenn.) 1884-1916, 1908-07-09

attacked the senses of his audience and
vanquished prejudice. He passed the
torch Of democracy. Being inspired
himself, he inspired Others.
On the other hand, Senator Carmack
had to combat with the charge Of insin-
Serity, for he was known by the demo.
Gratis of Tennessee from one end to the
other. He felt early in the battle that
his platform was a shallow one. Con.
scious of this weakness, he was forced
into his attitude on prohibition. His
speech was eloquent, but illogical and
undemocratic. TWAS filed with gold
en- ineptitudes and fiatulent platitudes
His arguments were as elastic as rubber
bands, and as thin. This was why he
lost instead of adding ground as the
series OF debates drew TO q close.
Yesterdays vote was a silent echo Of
the series of debates from every section
of the state.
1t was quite clear, however, that it
was not by speeches alone that the fight
was to be won, or that the question Of
majorities was to be settled by debates.
Both men sent active workers into the
field, and both did heroic rervice. The
fight was a bitter one from the very
outset, and was not given up by the
Carmack leaders until after midnight.
The great mistake OF Ex-senator Car
mack was in challenging Gov. Patterson
10 joint debate. He would have stood
better chance of winning but for this
error. 1t was believed that in opening
in Carmack country that with three de.
bates Gov. Patterson would be put out
of business. From he minute Gov.
Patterson began his Chattanooga de.
bate it was apparent to all present that
he would have the best OF the meeting
and this was q stsry repeated at every
subsequent meeting. He made no mis-.
takes. He never intruded q matter out
of which his opponent could make cap.
ital, but he never failed to make much
out of his adversary's bluAders. HG
was clean and correct. he refrained
from indulging in personalities and he
never involved friends of Senator Car
mack in his discussions, which was mol
true of the latter.
The series of debates began in Chat
tanooga and covered all of East Ten
nessee. Al this time, with the excep
ton OF Garter county, nearly every
county in this section of the state wal
opposed to him. Hamilton had openly
declared for Senator Carmack and thu
Hon. Oy Lyle was splitting heaven anC
earth to prevent stampede in Wash
ington county. 1t all looked one way
There was a sea of red at Bristol anG
Morristown and johnson City flooded
the platform with it's crimson.
The Red Wolf gloried in the triumph
OF his color.
AS the debate tour worked westward
people began to think Patterson hat
not quit the stump. He had not dis
played the white feather. He did no
look whipped. On the contrary, h
was not only holding his own, but h'
was whipping flesh from his opponen
and was weakening his strength in thi
section of the state. The first notabl,
display of the change of sentimen
came when the Carthage and Cookevill'
debates. At Cookeville the mountain
GERS came down from the hill farms ant
from the mountain coves. There wa
Drawn and breadth and sunburnet
sinew. They came almost as Q bod,
for Patterson and declared this senti
ment volume of lung.
In Carthage it became more appsren
and from this point on it was an angr.
fight that the senator made. The vol
grew lean. His jaws became lank. II
did not fatten on lamb. At Murfrees
boro it was certain that the Confedrat
veteran was going to add his voice I
J that of the hill-billie and this was fur
ther shown at Shelbvville, in old Bed
ford, q stronghold of democracy. Geo
Armistead, who managed the Carmac
campaign, rallied his forces in William
son county, and Carmack held his ow
in Maury. The debate tour passed /
the west of Nashville, and here Gov
Patterson for the first time felt tn
force of the tidal wave and the generG
spirit of reaction which was sweepin
, doubtful counties in his column. Dich
sou, Humphreys, Hickman, Robertson
Lewis and Stewart became almost Q
solid as Lawrence. The ebb Of Carmac
. prosperity began.
. There was trouble with the dark Il
, bacco growers in Montgomery. Thi
lost Gov. Patterson the county. Hi
reward for the arrest OF four men wh
; whipped boy 10 death before the eye
= of his mother was the cause of thii
' The night riders never forgave hin
, They said they would defeat him /
Montgomery county, and they did.
In West Tennessee the governor fai
cd to stimulate the same enthusiasm
G This was shown from the opening
r Jackson. Madison was red on thl
= rainy Monday. The Commercial Al
peal reported it as red, and said that
! would be a Carmack county, and it b,
came one last night. Gov. Patterso
failed to carry it before. Gibson WI
red, and the Oommercial-Appeal pal
lished it as a Carmsck county, and th
o prediction was fulfilled. The same WI
J. said Of Lauderdale and of 0bion, an
in nearly every report made Of not onI
West, but Middle and East Tenuess'
y the reports of the Commercial -Appe
!. have been substantiated by the hgurt