The Hartford republican. (Hartford, Ky.) 18??-1926, 1910-09-16
DEMOCRATS
ENDORSE HOOPER.
Results Will Affect Only
Governorship.
Single Issue Hinges on Person
atty Of the State
Leader.

NASHVILLE, Tenn, Sept. 1.-THE In
dependent Democrats of Tennessee
to-day Endorsed the candidacy of Capt
Ben II. 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
Committee without discussion.
Thus was organized a formidable
looking triumvirate to campaign for a
Republican Governor. the triumvirate
consisting of Republicans. independent
Democrats and Statewide Prohibit
tionists. The Independents and Pro-
hibitionists are so closely allied as TO
largely overlap in their membership.
The possible break in the solid
South, outlined in to-day's conven-
ton. extends only to one office, the
Governorship. There Is gentle
mans agreement" between the Inde-
pendents and the Republicans that
neither party will invade the 9TH
er's safe legislative territory and
this the Independents say assures a
Democratic Legislature.
The last Republican governor in
Tennessee was Alvin Hawkins in
1882. 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 Court of Civil APP
peals, as an Independent in the jul
dietary election last August. which
was the forerunner of to-day's con-
vention.
The convention was run off with
out ripple of opposition to the pro-
gram of the leaders, whose only wor-
ry was to keep the enthusiastic del
egates from prematurely suspending
the rules and nominating Hooper by
reclamation.
This was attempted, but ruled out
of order by the Permanent Chair
man, X. Z. L. Mountcastle, National
Democratic Committeeman for Ten
nessee. There was a long wait for
committee reports and then platform
resolutions were adopted and nomina
lions made in rapid succession by
unanimous rising votes.
The resolution on harmony reads
as follows:
I'VE recommend that the resolu-
ton sent to this convention by the
Patterson committee be referred to
the State Committee elected by this
convention for proper answer in ac-
cordance with the action and nomina-
lions of this convention"
During the speech making former
Attorney General Jeff McCarn de-
fined the delegates general opinion
as to their straight Democracy when
he said:
I'm "a straight Democrat, and I'm
going right straight to the polls and
vote for Captain Hooper,"
The pardon of Senator Carmack's
slayer was denounced repeatedly by
the speakers and each announcement
was received with shouts of approval.
Temporary Chairman G.. T. Fitzhugh,
of Memphis brought the audience to
10, 20 thaxx h. rxf he W oh
Cooper case:
When the highest court despite
his (Patterson's) efforts to coerce it,
had handed down decree which
branded his closest friend and chief
political advisor as a murderer. he
spat upon and trampled under foot
this judgment, which was in accord
with law and justice and which met
with 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
appointed by the Independents to-day
met this evening and referred the
Regulars harmony proposal to com
mittee of three with instructions to
report on Sept "a.
The Regulars tonight organized to
fight 1t out with the fusionists all
along the line. Their State commit
tee called a. convention to meet in
Nashville October 6 TO nominate a