The Columbia herald. [volume] (Columbia, Tenn.) 18??-1935, 1908-03-27
REPUBLICANS ARE
SPLIT IN TWAIN
TWO CONVENTIONS WILL MEET
AT THE STATE CAPITAL
ON TOMORROW.
DIVISION IN THE COMMITTEE
Evans And Brownlow Folk Clash,
The Latter Leaving
The Hall.

NASHVILLE. Tenn. March "a
Claiming that the Evans faction will
not give them square deal, the
Brownlow wing of the republican par
ty is threatening to bolt and hold a
separate convention here tomorrow.
The first step toward the split was
taken yesterday afternoon at the
meeting Of the republican state execu-
tive committee, when Harry Ander-
son of Memphis, Paul E. DeVine Of
Johnson City and Horace Mann OF
Knoxville, three Brownlow members
withdrew from the deliberations OF the
committee. after an exciting discus
sion which arose over the placing OF
Carter county in the contested column.
Mr.. DeVine held the proxy OF W. /.
Davis of the First district, Mr. Mann
held the proxy Of Judge Walker OF
the Ninth district The former had
made a strong speech against the In
Justice of putting Carter county on
the roll of contested counties, charg-
ing that there was no excuse What-
ever for such action. When his plea
was ignored, and the name Of Carter
went on the list of contested counties,
he, together with Messrs. Mann and
Anderson. arose and left the hall, re-
fusing to have anything more to do
with the Meeting.
A dramatic incident in connection
with the bolt was an impassioned APP
peal of ]. Ed DeFord of Hardin coun'
ty for harmony, and begging the en-
ragged committeeman not to bolt. He
told them to stay in the meeting, and
if they had a just cause they would
get Justice, and pleaded eloquently
| against a disruption His appeal, how
ever, was lost, although the commit
teemen wavered remaining inside the
doors for several minutes after Mr., De-
Ford closed his speech. A number OF
| Brownlow men in the hall Went 70
them and tried to get them not to
leave. While this was going on w. b.
Bachman, the other First district COM
mitteeman, was having wordy war
with Lee Brock and Chairman Newell
Sanders. which resulted in Mr.. Bach
man picking up his hat and overcoat
and starting to leave also, but he re-
turned and remained in the meeting.
Several exciting passages between
members of the committee took place
while the bolt was brewing, Lee Brock
and Mr.. DeVine at one time coming
i almost to blows. Threatening re-
marks we're made by Mr.. Brock when
Ibis opporent sid something that he
J thought vas untrue Brock denounced
Lit as false, and said Re would not
stand for any reflections on his non
\ esty or his motive; that he wanted to
i give everybody square dealj' he
warned Mr.. Devine mot to go too far
as he might not be able to get BACK
Mr.. DeVine talked in a similar
strain. and while the excitement was
at its highest, Big Jim Duggan, deputy
i United states marshal, and one or two
ether peace promoters, jumped be-
tween the belligerents and kept any
gore from being spilled.
The troubles arose over the resolu-
ton the committee adopted, which
was introduced by Lee Brock, which
provided that the roll call OF counties
be made by the secretary in alphabet
cal order, and that as each county
was called, If there was no contest on
file from that county, and no members
of the committee had heard d y +
that the delegates from that county
be placed on the temporary roll call II
the convention.
A debate had taken place over the
adoption of the resolution between
Messrs. Devine, Anderson and r. 8.
Hopkins, for the Brownlow men, and
Lee Brock for the Evans men. The
resolution was adopted BY a vote OF
IA to 4.
The roll call was proceeded with and
things went fairly smooth until Carter
county was called
THAT'S in contest" said Mr.. Brock.
"The hi 1t is" or words to that
effect, said Mr. DeVine, arising with
determined and surprised demeanor.