The comet. (Johnson City, Tenn.) 1884-1916, 1909-01-21
JESSE LITTLETON
MAKES STATEMENT
SIMPLY SAW OPPORTUNITY
Desired Fair Election Law and Sug
gested Now Time to Pass it.
Talked to Several Members

Hon. Jesse Littleton, whose name has
been mentioned in connection with the
alleged attempt to get the republican
members to vote with the administra-
tionists, or local option democrats, in
defeating the statewide prohibition
bill, gave out the following interview
to the Nashville Banner:
"When publication was made a few
days ago that a proposition had been
made by prominent republican pol
itician to Senator Sam r. Sells that if
the republicans would join the Patter-
son, or administration democrats, and
kill the statewide prohibition bill the
Patterson, or administration democrats,
would join the republicans and elect
three republican state officers, and that
this proposition was made on the au-
thority of Mr.. w. D. Scruggs, private
secretary to the governor, l had not the
slightest idea that was in any way
connected with such proposal. | did
not make denial, because l am not a
politician, prominent or otherwise.
"This is the third time have been
in state-house when the Legislature was
in session in ten years; the other two
occasions on which was present were
when local bills affecting Winchester
and Franklin county were before the
legislature.
Waited for RetractiOn.
"t.After the statement had been pub
lished once or twice in the Nashville
papers, there was added the further
statement that l was said to be the
man who made the proposition to SEN
ator Sells. Feeling sure that Senator
Sells would correct this statement vol
unfairly, and eXonerate me, | refused
to make any statement, expecting in
CNCiy puOilCdtAOlI Olidt lIC WOulu uO Ulc
the simple justice to say, in a public
way, that had made him no such
proposition. Senator Sells, however,
gave out no statement relieving me,
and | went to Nashville on Friday last
to see him and obtain from him either
an affirmation or denial of my connec.
tion with the matter but the senator
had left for East Tennessee when ar.
rived.
While in Nashville l gave out q
statement that felt sure that Senator
Sells, when he returned, would eXoner
ate me, that had nothing to say then
except that | done nothing improper
and that | had said nothing improper
"Senator Sells has seen that publica
ton, and yet he has authorized ~ pub
lie statement relieving me of the impu
tation which rested upon me aS Il resul
of his interview, and the adding of my
own name TO il ny The reporters in til,
public reports. / have been patient
because am conscious OF the rectitud
of my position. preferred that Sena
tor Sells give statement relieving m
of any connection with the matter, bu
rs he has failed to do so, | must, il
justice to myself, state the whole truth
{" went to Nashville Monday nigh
on business. The legislature being il
session had nothing whatever to d
with my visit. The two houses ha
been organized when ! arrived there
and in the lobbieS of the hotels an
other public places there was talk of
bitter kind from the friends of the ad
ministration against the democrati
members who had joined with the rt
publican members and organized tn
two branches of the assembly. hear
a great deal of this kind of talk, non
of which was private or confidential
\ 1t seemed to me that there was so muc
"a
feeling that there was good opportr
nifty for the republicans to pass an ele'
ton bill that would be satisfactory [
|. their party, and l thought they Nigh
ELECT two state officers. / heard tn
] kind of talk everywhere, from me
who were member, and from men VIII
were not members. talked to Hor
Polk Marshall of Bradley, Hon. Get
! e. Burbage of Washington, Hon. Wa
ter White of Rhea, Hon. Pat Thach
Marion, Hon. Dan Swab, senator frol
! Claiborne, and talked to Hon. G. \
I Tillman and to Hon. Lee Brock and |
Z Senator Sam Sells. think that ever
J fmembef of the assembly to whom