The Paducah evening sun., 1910-09-22
THE pADUCAH EVENING SUN
INDEPENDENTS REPLY

Nashville, Sept. ga ringing
address was issued by the Independ-
ent Democratic state executive COM
mittee, in which the issues of the
pending campaign were clearly set
forth in such a manner that no one
could misunderstood what is actual
ly at stake. This address was issued
upon the order of the committee,
and was adopted unanimously at a
meeting at which practically the en-
tire membership was present in per-
son or by proxy. The full text of the
address follows:
ITO the Democracy of Tennessee:
We, the state Democratic executive
committee, duly constituted and ap-
pointed by direct authority of the
democratic voters, expressed in ac-
cordance with established Demo
cratic custom, deem it proper, at
this time. to briefly review the politi-
cal situation in Tennessee. to the
end that Democrats coming from
any source.
"The Democracy of Tennessee as
sembled in mass-meeting at the Au-
ditorium in Nashville, Tenn. on the
/ Sth day of May. 1910, and solemnly
repudiated the authority of the Pat
terson political machine. which then
claimed and still claims to be the
regular state Democratic executive
committee. That mass-meeting ap-
pointed a state Democratic executive
committee which successfully con-
Quoted the judicial campaign, and
which. after the August election was
over called the state Democratic
convention that met at the Audi
torium in Nashville on the l4th day
of September, 1910.
when that convention met il
adopted a platform of principles. TO
which your attention is especially
directed it endorsed Capt b. w.
Hooper for governor; nominated
Hon. b. A. Enloe for railroad COM
missioner. and appointed this COM
mittee to act as the state Democratic
executive committee for the next
two years. That convention referred
to this committee for reply. COM
munication transmitted to It by the
Patterson machine committee. The
said communication professed a de-
sire for harmony. and suggested a
plan of its own to secure the same.
The action of the convention in
obeying the instructions of the peo-
pie. as given in the respective coun-
ties on September 5, was an elo-
quent and effective answer to said
communication, but the convention
evidently thought that this commit
tee should review the matter, and
give to the public the reasons for
the course pursued. This renders
necessary a brief review OF recent
political events.
I'VE contend that the title of the
Patterson machine committee is
founded in fraud. and that fraud
vitiates everything it touches. This
fund was committed and made effec-
tive two years ago. when ISL dele
gates elected by the Democrats OF
IL counties we're denied seats in the
Democratic state convention. and
Isl delegates appointed by one
man-Baneroft Murray. attorney for
the brewing interest at Chattanooga,
were seated in the convention, In
violation of the primary plan adopt
ed by the state Democratic execu-
tive committee. which plan had been
accepted. voted upon and ratified. by
the Democratic voters of the state.
"By this action the right of self
government in the Democratic party
was usurped and Governor Patter-
son was enabled to write the party
platform and TO appoint the mem
bers of the state executive commit