The comet. (Johnson City, Tenn.) 1884-1916, 1908-07-09
WILL BRIGHTEN EN-.
Dope Dished Out by
NeWs-SCimitar.
DESIGNS ON FRAZIER TOGA
Says Nashville Dispatch to
Memphis of Grape
Vine" Sort.

The following mess OF political dope
was dished out yesterday by the News
Scimitar of .Memphis. The story of
Patterson's ambition was given Nash.
vile date line, but many who read it
have an impression it was special OF
the "grape vine" sort that some news
papers sometimes write in their own Of
fees and print as from elsewhere.
This story will at least prove entertain
ing:
"Should NJ. r.. Patterson be re elect.
ed governor of Tennessee in Novem-
ber he will be candidate for the sen.
ate to succeed the Hon. James B. Fra.
zier, whose term will expire in March,
1911, which is just after the expiration
of Patterson's second term as govern
or, says this bit of grape vine news.
''That this is the governors ambition
is known by his political friends and
advisers, and already plans have been
set on foot to insure his elevation to
the senate.
Patterson leaders believe their can
didate is the strongest political factor
in the state. Patterson's machine has
proven invincible in one Of the hard,
est fought contests ever knewn in the
history of Tennessee, and with another
term as governor it will be materially
strengthened in all it's parts. The gov
ernor will recommend the creation of
additional Offices by the next legisla-
ture, and these will be used to reward
those who stood by the machine in the
recent contest, and also to make easier
the governors path to the senate,
"WhiIe there still remains a good
deal of preiuice against the matter Of
Frazier's election to the senate, that
gentleman has done nothing since he
went to Washington to forfeit the con-
fidence of the people, and there is little
doubt that he will make strong race
should he be candidate for re-elec-
tion. 1t is expected that Frazier will
not retire without contest He has
always been hard fighter, and it is
hardly probable that he would volun-
tarily surrender to the machine with
out putting up stiff fight.
"But, according to the we'll laid
plans of the governor, there is not 60
ing to be any chance for defeat. There
will not be any direct primary for sen.
ator as was the case in the contest be-
tween Bob Taylor and Oarmack. Gov
ernor Patterson will take the position
that the constitution has vested in the
legislature the power and the authority
to elect a senator, and that direct pri.
mary would be violation of the spirit
if not the letter, OF the constitution. A
legislature would be much easier to
manipulate by the liberal use of pa
tronsge than would the people in d.
rect primary, hence the cry of "uncon-
stitutional" will be used to answer the
demands Of these who may insist upon
following the precedent in the Patter-
son and Carmack contests.
"This is the reason why the state
committee at it's memorable session on
FEBRUARY 29th refused to order prima-
ry to nominate candidates for treasur.
er, comptroller and secretary of state.
1t will be recalled that the candidates
for these offices filed requests before
the committee asking for direct pri'
mary on the same day Of the governors
election, to determine their contests,
The requests were, however, refused
by the state committee, which gave as
its reasons that the officers in question
were elected by the legislature and moi
by the people, and primary would be
in contravention of the spirit If moi
the letter, OF the constitution.
"There were many in the state al
that time who were mystified at the &C
tion of the committee, because Govern
or Patterson could not lose or benefi
by the election of any particular candi
dates.to these Offices. Boz Me reason
is splaiu now. A precedent for use h
the year Of grace, 1910, when M. R
Patterson shall bea candidate for tht
senate, was being established. If it il
! unconstitutional to hold a primary fol
, secretary of state, treasurer and comp
3 troller, Offices to be filled by the gen
eral assembly, why will it not be sun
I constitutional" to nominate q candi
/ date for the senate in that manner
B The senator is also elected by the leg
islature. There is logic in this. Their,
is also method in the plans laid by thI
Patterson leaders.
: "The average Tennessee legislatur
for the past twenty years has contained
l 100 democratic membees. Fifty.on
ycaes win therefore dominate the Join
coucus and elect United States sena
tor. Tbs three counties of Hamilton