The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1910-09-17
= SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER II, 1910
The TENNESSEE SPLIT.
PATTERSON WRECKED PARTY
BEFORE HE WITHDREW.
Men Refuse to Come
m-Join With Republicans and
State-widers in Support OF Nominee,
1or G0vernor-Denounce Patterson.

III,
Nashville. Tenn, Sept. 14.-The in
dependent Democrats Of Tennessee to-
day Endorsed the candidacy of Capt.
Ben. M. Hooper. Republican nominee
for governor. and further cut loose
from the regular wing by referring
the latter's harmony resolution to the
new Independent State executive COM
mittee without discussion.
Thus was formed a formidable
looking triumvlrate to campaign for
Republican governor, the triumvi-
rate consisting Of Republicans inde-
pendent Democrats and Statewide
prohibitionists. The independent and
prohibitionists are so closely allied as
to largely overlap in their member
ship.
The possible break of the solid
South outlined in todays convention,
extends only to one office, the COVER
norship. There is a "gentlemen's
agreement" between the independents
and Republicans that neither party
will invade the others safe legislative
territory and this, the Independents
say. assures a Democratic legislature.
A Former Split.
The last Republican governor in
Tennessee was Alvin Hawkins in
1SS1-'S2. 1t is a curious fact that
his election was due to a Democratic
split led by Judge S. F. Wilson, who
was elected to the supreme court of
appeals as an independent in the cleo
tion last August which was the fore
runner of today's convention.
The convention was run off without
ripple of opposition to the pro-
gramme of the leaders whose only
worry was to keep the enthusiastic
delegates from prematurely suspend
ing the rules and nominating Hooper
-hM4- oalaISxA Ation!--rhis- 1rteS1fSprcti,
but ruled out of order by the perma-
nent chairman, r. E. l.. Mountcastle,
national Democratic committeeman
for Tennessee. There was a long
wait for committee reports and then
platform resolutions were adopted
and nominations made in rapid sue
cession by unanimous rising votes
The resolution on harmony reads:
To The Pigeon Holes.
I'VE recommend that the resolution
sent to this convention by the Pat
terson convention be referred to the
State committee elected by this con-
vention for proper answer in accord
ance with the action and nominations
of this convention"
The pardon of Senator Carmack's
slayer was denounced repeatedly by
the speaker and each announcement
was received with shouts of approval
Temporary Chairman Fitzhugh of
Memphis brought the audience to it's
feet when he said of the Carmack-
Cooper case:
when the highest court-despite
his (Patterson's) efforts to coerce it
had handed down a decree which
branded his closest friend and chief
political adviser as a murderer he
spat upon and trampled under foot
this judgment which was in accord
ance with law and justice and which
met the approval Of the civilized
world"
The convention ended with Capt
Hooper's address. The Republican
candidate was frequently interrupted
by cheering and applause.
The State executive committee, ap-
pointed by the Independents today.
met this evening and referred the reg
ular's harmony proposal to COM
mittee of three with instructions to
| report on September "a.
Regulars Organize.
The regulars tonight organized to
fight it out with the fusionists all
along the line. Their State committee
called a convention to meet in Nash
vile October 6 to name a guberna-
torial candidate, adopt a platform, Sc
lect national Democratic committee
man and elect a new State executive
committee. Regular leaders said the
call for new platform is evidence Of
the sincerity Of the Democratic organ
iaztion to reunite the factions. The
call is to all Democrats irrespective
or past party differences The COM
mittee adoptcl resolutions congratu.
lating Gov. Patterson on his with
drawal as a step calculated to secure