The comet. (Johnson City, Tenn.) 1884-1916, 1909-12-30
POLITICAL LEADERS
IN CONFLICT
Continued from page one.

Continued from page one,
southern executives of the Bell Tele-
phone Company, was once recorder,
mayor, and easily the dominant repub-
lican of Chattanooga. He was also
chief postofiice inspector of the United
States.
The younger Sharp took to politics
like duck to water. He has been re-
corder's clerk, postmaster, inspector in
charge of the Chattanooga district of
postoffice inspectors; later postotfice in
spector of the Chattanooga division
embracing five southern states with
headquarters in Chattanooga. He later
made two unsuccessful races as the re-
publican nominee for congress in the
Third district against Judge Moon. He
was postmaster of Chattanooga for two
terms, eight years, retiring voluntarily,
and having his assistant, w. Scott
Raulston, named as his successor.
Then, probably for the only interval
in his life, he went into commercial
life as sales manager for big hosiery
manufacturing concern in Chattanoo-
ga. But the call of the wild was not
to be resisted, and he was made inter-
nal revenue collector for Tennessee.
Gossip as to Successor if Sharp Lands Job.
Republicans get into the pie appetite
early. Discussion is already rife as to
who will succeed Sharp as collector in
event he is named as first assistant
postmaster-general. Those discussed
here are Senator Sam r. Sells, of John
son City; Postmaster Monroe Monday,
Of Knoxville; John H. Early, of Chat.
tanooga; DR.. r. @. Lilliard, Lebanon;
Chief Clerk Eugene Priest, of Nash.
vile, under Collector Sharp; E. w,
Essary, of Lexington; R. A. Haggard
, Waynesboro; H. D. True, of Memphis
and Others. 1t is known that President
Taft will make hard fight to lane
Tennessee in the republican column
next time, and this is part of Frank A
Hitchcock's game, the political strate
gist of Taft's cabinet, in stacking thi
: state with important and lucrative fed
: eral appointments. Mr.. Sharp is
personal friend of Postmaster-G Genera
Z Hitchcock, and is an acknowledged ex
pert in manipulating southern delega
tons. The postoffice department is tn
one in which to play the political gam
p, and it is the endeavor of Boss Hitch
, cock TO sew up at once the southern
:, delegation for Mr.. Taft, ahead of Fail
banks or Senator Beveridge or any on
i, else who may oppose.
: a number of Nashville politician
have it all doped out in event of Nj
n Sharp's appointment They say job
Gore, surveyor of port here, will be tn
o internal revenue collector, and that Co
4 "Bill " Truman will succeed Gore.
Another Iumor tipped to an America
reporter scheduled Lee Brock for co
l. lector. Mr.. Brock is the present eff
5, Gent referee in bankruptcy. But it
II stated that the collectors position
/ far more lucrative, and Mr.. Broc
would, if he so elected, have first cal
Tennessee has Jared remarkably we
E as a result of Mr.. Taft's wide acquain
ance in the state, and by reason, too,
/ such great number of eligibles, f,
: which Tennessee is famous.
y Look at the good things already gi
l. en- Tennessee from the national store:
"a Cabinet member, J. NJ. Dickinson,
n Nashville, secretary of war;
A member of the supreme cour
Judge Horace H. Lurton, of Nashvill
= The treasurer of the United State
n Lee McClung, of Knoxville.
u1 The first assistant attorney-gener
he of the United States, James A. Fowle
:. of Knoxville.
And now within her grasp the Off
of first assistant postmaster-general.
e It's more government recognition
a national character than has been gi
y en- Tennessee since the war.
War Goes Merrily on in East TENNESSEE
i, Republican politics are all aglow