The comet. (Johnson City, Tenn.) 1884-1916, 1911-08-03

est of harmony which would reflect
either upon the regular candidates for
judges or their supporters, or the sup
porters Of the regular ticket in August,
or any of Gov. Patterson's friends; and
premeditated or organized movement
of that kind is certain to bring about
dissensions rather than harmony.
"The only way to get together is to
ignore everything that has occurred in
the past and get together.
"Mr. McKellar suggests that the
two committees unite in making call.
did not know that there were two
democratic committees in the state, or
two committees claiming to be demo-
cratic After the August election my
understanding is that the two commit
tees-those supporting the independent
judges and the regular democratic
committee-did get together and called
convention, which nominated Bob
Taylor, and that then another COM
mittee was elected by the democrats
that were supposed to be thus reunited.
| believe there was and is another COM
mittee of men who say they are demo-
Gratis, and who may be, who supported
the republican candidate tor governor,
"Now, while l do not recognize this
myself as democratic committee, yet,
if any of those gentlemen claim to be
democratic committee, or if there is
any other organization, or any number
of men, or even one man in the state
who claims TO be a democrat, and who
thinks his importance and influence is
sufficient to justify it, let him and them
and all these committees unite in call
ing all the democrats together in
convention; and in order to prevent the
manipulation that has been so disas-
trous to the party in the past, let all
the counties be called to select their
delegates on the same day, as hereto
fore ordered by the democratic conven-
tions. This certainly would have the
effect of bringing all the democrats to-
gether who want to be brought togeth-
er in convention, and my further
suggestion is, that when they get to-
gether they be allowed to make their
own platform and select their own
candidates, such as to the united party
may seem best under all the circum-
stances, without regard to anything in
the past, and without any attempt of
distinguished leaders to select candi-
dates for them; and when the conven-
tion gets together, the effort on the
part of every sincere democrat should
be to absolutely ignore and wipe out
past divisions.
"This has been done in the state
heretofore, and there is no reason why
it should not oe done again. So far as
am concerned, if he appears to be the
best man, am willing to be for the
nomination, either of man who ran
on the Independent ticket for judge or
for man who supported that ticket.
/ myself showed this last year imme-
diately after the August election, when
volunteered my support, because |
thought he would be good man for
the place, to Mr.. Mcclellan for nominee
for governor, although | understood
that he opposed me and supported the
Independent ticket, and If there is GO
ing to be any harmony in this state, it
can only he brought about by ignoring
the past and not by any attempt or
suggestion TO reflect on or shut out any
class of democrats on accout of the
past
81 am also opposed to the idea of a
prediction of man from any partic-
ular section. Let us secure The best
man from whatever section hg may
come. Mr. McKellar, for instance, if
he appears at that time TO be the best
and strongest man. John l. Cox, of
the eastern livision, if it be the judg-
ment Of the united democrats that he
is the man to win; or Col. Nat Baxter,
Frank Dibrell or Judge w. X. McAlis-
ter--there is not purer or better man
in the state than he, though Mr.. Nc |
Kellar's suggestion shuts out all of
these available and strong men, Mr..
Mcclellan because he is from the west
ern division-the other gentlemen be-
cause they supported the regular ticket
in August. / do not mean to nominate
these gentlemen, or any other gentle.