The comet. (Johnson City, Tenn.) 1884-1916, 1909-10-28

select by direct vote is the county exec
utiVe committee.
That section 20, relating to charges
against candidate and trial of the
candidates is in violation of the Decla-
ton of Rights, and in conferring this
power the legislature exceeded its au-
thonty.
That it is discriminatory in provid-
ing for compensation of some"agencies"
of the two political parties out of the
public treasury, while requiring other
such persons to serve without compen-
sation.
The chancellor suggested that the
new method of selecting the state exec
utive committees did not bring the Sc
lection as near to the people as the old.
He also observed that the bill was
hastily drafted and not critically con-
sidered.
Points IN Governors Veto Message.
Gov, Patterson's veto message went
to the senate February 10, 1909,
Gov. Patterson opens his disapproval
of the bill with an assertion that we'll
considered and practicable law, equal
and just in its operation, providing for
compulsory system of primaries,
would have met with his approval. He
held, however, that under the pretense
of safeguarding the popular rights, it
was breeding ground of fraud and a
lurking place of danger.
His first objection to the bill was
that it made nominations for certain
offices compulsory, left others to be
voted for without compulsion and ex-
cepted others entirely from the provi-
sions of the law.
Another objection was that the selec-
ton of congressional, judiciary, senate
rial and tloterial committees was left
to the county COMMITTEES, instead of to
the people.
Another objection is the physical inn
possibility of voting for convention del
egates, the governors language being:
"The county of Davidson, under the
terms of this act, would be entitled to
eighty-three delegates, and there might
be an indefinite number of candidates,
but the voter is compelled from memo
ry to write, paste or stamp the names
of the eighty-three he wishes to vote
! for the voter would have but
! five minutes to vote for candidates for
office, committeeman and delegates,
thus requiring of him the performance
of an impossible task.
! "The law in its very inception starts
out vaguely, making unreasonable ex-
ceptions and imposes limitations and
conditions embarrassing to the voter
and involving the most sacred right OF
the franchise"
The authorization of unsuccessful
candidates or other persons to prefer
charges of bribery against the success
full candidate, to be heard by board
without the right of appeal, is CON
centratiOn and usurpation of power 10y
the legislature that properly belongs to
the courts. "Who would offer under
this law as candidate, if any one from
vicious motives of disappointment OF
malevolence could prefer charges Of
corruption to be determined by parti-
san political board? The charges may
be manufactured for sinister purpose,
and all efforts (of the candidate) may
be thwarted by false charge by a
! partisan board, who can refuse to place
his name upon the regular ticket at the
general election. To leave the candi.
date and the people whose choice he
is, in this predicament, to substitute
the will of q board for the will of the
people, is such subterfuge for over.
turning party nominations, such a trav.
esty and mockery of justice as to de.
serve the rebuke of every sight-thinking
man."
The poll tax requirement is an un
usual and unnecessary hardship.
The failure to require a pledge from
the voter to support the nominee is an
other objection raised.
" An additional evidence either O
lack of due consideration or ulterio
purpose is found in the references tC
candidates for United States senator. ;
The date fixed for primaries, the frs
Continued on page 4
JUDGE HORACE PALMER.