The comet. (Johnson City, Tenn.) 1884-1916, 1910-07-07
THE CAMPAIGN.

=
terson in his campaign tour of East
Tennessee has surprised and disheart-
ened the opposition.
1t was expected that the governor
would begin his campaign in the rock
ribbed democratic counties.
Gov. Patterson, with far-seeing
purpose, went into what is supposed
to be the heart of the opposition. Some
thought that this was daring proce-
dure. They see now that it was the
finest of political wisdom. Out in the
counties of East Tennessee Patterson
received a tremendous ovation.
All papers in Chattanooga are oppos-
ed to him. These papers could not deny
the size of the crowds. They comfort
ed themselves, however, and deceived
their readers out of town by question
ing the quality of the crowds.
The fact is that Gov. Patterson has
developed a tremendous strength, and
his strength is because of his position.
He is evading nothing AMI lodging no
issue. He is meeting the uppermost
questions fairly and squarely and tell
ing the voters exactly what he thinks.
He admits that in some things he
might have made mistakes. lie gives
no promise that he may not make mis-
takes in the future, but he does say
that he believes that he acted for the
best and he does promise that in the
future he will do what his calm judg-
menl distates to him as the best policy.
The democratic position of Patterson
is strong. He is now campaigning in
b .half of the judiciary ticket nomina at
ed by democratic voters Of Tennessee.
The boiling candidates for supreme
Judges had all opportunity for fair
chance before The democratic voters OF
this state.
Long before the state committee had
met Judge Shields had, through his
friends, become the beneficiary of sew.
eral snap conventions. A half dozen
| LAWYERS and few clerks would meet
in court house aud declare that The
voters in that county were enthusiast {
for the denomination Of Shields ard bis
friends on the bench. The further dis
position q these snap conventions was
to drop Judge Bell.
The legislature Of Tennessee passed .
bill suggesting q change in the consti
tuition providing. that all elections
should be held on the same day. There
has been movement all over this
country for All election Of judges by /
primary. vote; rather than through .
convention. 'fhe same spirit has dc
manded the election u senator's and al
other officers By y prinary vote rathel
than by legislatures Or conventions.
The boiling JUICES declared that they
would have no primary on the .sam'
day that other officers were elected
They wanted a convention and thei
friends demanded for them a conven
tion.
The friends 81 Gay. Patterson sen
word to Judge Shields that he coulc
keep The counties that lie had already
"saappec, but that the future nomi
nations must DC made on one day. ant
/ bv primary votes, and Judge Shield
would have none Of this.
| later the democratic candidates f.
judges offered 70 join with the boltini
Candidates with IA request for the cqua
division Of judges and clerks. Sail TIL
s balters remained OUT
tlidor the crafty leadership Q
Shields and the hypnotic influences Q
Gates, they were persuaded that The.
caul,l run independent, and by til
help OF The republicans beat the admin
istraiion democrats. And it was
J cheerful prospect.
Il iq!c plet was thai the republican
leaders shr9u!h throw the republican
voters behind these candidat sin Aug
uSt and the boilers should throw thei
] voters behind the republican candidate
: in November.
Somehow the republicans themselye
do mt enthusc over being traded Of
Without their consent Ard the ind'
peneeit campaign is not fiourlshing.
Ehe democratic nominees have ever
clear title Ia their nominations. I'll