The comet. (Johnson City, Tenn.) 1884-1916, 1910-06-02
Associated Press Dispatch Report
mo the Conference.

ing the Conference.
Readers of The American will recall
the Associated Press dispatch printed
in these columns May15 That telegram
given the Associated Press at the in
stance of the conferees was as follows:
"As the result of conferences at the
white house this afternoon, in which
Congressman Brownlow and Austin,
State Chairman Newell Sanders and
other republican leaders of Tennessee
participated, it is practically certain
that the republican party will not
nominate ticket for the supreme court
and the court of civil appeals in the
coming state elections. This is taken
to indicate that the republicans will
unitedly join with the anti. Patterson
democrats in supporting the independ-
ent judicial ticket"
Secretary Dickinson. and Senator
Frazier are credited with the start of it
all. They are reported as having call
ed on the president, whether together
or separately is not stated. However,
by one or the other or by both, the
president, so the story goes, was told
that with the aid of the republicans
the independents could elect 'free
and untrammeled Judiciary " in Ten
nessee; that the organized democracy
was being bitterly fought by an indie
pendent organization headed by Judge
Shields and G. T. Gates, jr.; that Pat
terson was "bold, bad man., and
that if they could get the independent
Judiciary elected it meant the defeat of
Patterson in November by the republi-
cans, with either Overall or ex-District
Attorney Penland, and the possible
election of Taft democratic the SEN
ale, if Frazier could not win over the
nominee, McMillin.
The president then wired Newell
and he went to Washington
When either Dickinson, Frazier or the
president teld the Chattanooga the
plan, the Washington man reports |
him as fairly jumping with joy. He
is quoted as soying that while he was
was willing for others to have the
credit of being the authors, that the
same plan had been sleeping in his
brain cells for a month.
The president himself then wrote
1ut the agreement that 1--WE" think it
lnwise to nominate candidates for the
supreme court in Tennessee this year
md we will do what we can to en-
courage the election of the independent
free and untrammeled. y
Austin and Brown1ow Arrive on
the Scene.
Dickinson and Frazier then retired
rom the scene, and Sanders signed the
The president sent for
and Austin and presented
hem the paper. Brownlow baked
md said he feared it was the death
warrant of the party in Tennessee and
hat he could not sign it. The presi-
lent said that Brownlow's refusal to
10 so meant shat he was not friend
t the administration. Then Brown
ow is reported to have said:
off this is q test of nv LOYALTY to the
ead of the nation and the head of the
'arty, 1 will sign it, but fear it will
isrupt the party. Our people are
lanly and independent, and you can't
arter them to Democrats
Turning to Mr.. Sanders he is report
d to have said:
"You have signed this for your peo-
lie. Are you authorized to do so?n
Sanders replied:
81 have signed it and will stand by
. There will be no nominations for
lpreme judges by the republicans in
ennessee this year"
Brownlow held the paper for some /,
me, the president showing much dis ;
leasure at his hesitation, and then he
reported to have said in that pecu- !
ar way of his:
ISLANDERS, have always said that
on were fool politician. Now, / am
Ding to act temporarily as big a fool {