The comet. (Johnson City, Tenn.) 1884-1916, 1910-04-21
OPPOSITION MAY
MAKE CONDITIONS
WANTS HALF THE OFFICERS
And Will Ron Against Any Man
Upon Any Platform Proposed
and Support the Nominee

With reference to the primar
plan of nominating candidates, Gov
Patterson says in part:
1t was to be expected tina
whatever plan the committee nigh
adopt would be criticised, and it wa
predetermined by the malcontent
that there should be rupture in tn,
democratic party. The primar
plan was seized upon as offering al
opportunity. The men who hav,
said they have always favored vot,
by the people to nominate all public
officers, including the judges, are thu
first to raise the false cry of bringing
the Judges into politics, and they
would have made any other issue or
any other plan that might have beer
adopted.
Personally, have no objection
but would rather prefer for the dele
gates to be elected direct by the peo-
pie if it can be done without confus,
ing the voters; but whether they are
selected by committee or elected
by the people could make no differ
ence in the result, and certainly
none with those who are prepared to
object in advance. However, if the
executive committee should now
change this feature of the plan, the
same collectors would not indorse
the primary.
The plan adopted by the execu-
tive committee may not be perfect in
all of its details, but is absolutely
fair, affords all democrats an oppor-
tunity to vote and gives no advan-
tage to any one candidate over an
other. The real objection to it is
that it is fair and the real reason
why it is denounced is that those
who. have determined to vote the
ticket in November, if |
am nominated, do not wish to be
bound by any sort of primary.
In order to test the question,
and in hope that democratic ascend.
any may not be imperiled, but that
harmony may prevail, Inow propose,
on my own responsibility, and as a
democratic candidate for governor,
the following:
II will join with any gentle
man who represents and has the in
dorsement of the organized opposi-
ton to me within the democratic
party, in request to the state ex-
ecutive committee to reconvene and
fix another day, separate and apart
from the day when the judges are to
be nominated. so that the democrat
ic voters on that day may nominate
a candidate for governor and elect
delegates to state convention to
carry out the will of the people, pro-
mulgate platform and select new
state executive committee.
This offer will hold good for two
weeks, so that the committee may
De called by the chairman and the
change made before the day set for
he qualification of candidates on the
10Th day of May.
FL will agree that the cand;-
late who may oppose me shall select
he method of nomination, either
With the county as the unit or by a |
tate wide primary.
81 will agree to an equal divis-
on of judges, clerks, watchers and
,ther officers of election to be nam
d by each candidate or his friends.
Al will agree that all demo-
rats over FL years of age shall vote,
he only requirement. to be that they
hall support in good faith the sue
essful candidate in November.
81 will agree with my compet-
tors if he should become the nomi-
zee of the party. not only to support
i'm, but also the platform and will
rye in public addresses his election
i November.
If there are any other reasonable
onditions which will induce any
nan calling himself democrat and
Who represents the opposition, to en-