The comet. (Johnson City, Tenn.) 1884-1916, 1911-02-16
HOUK AND
DAVIS ON TOP
RANK AND FILE IN REVOLT
From Sanders and Sells and Strong
Intimations of Immediate Re-
organization of Party.
Special to The Comet.

Special to The Comet.
Nashville, Tenn, Feb. 11.-Senatol
Houk seems to have turned trump
on the Sanders contingent down Al
Nashville, and as a result there is con
siderable agitation in political circles
from one end of the state to the other
Some of the old stalwarts of the repub
lican party are muttering in their beard
over the endless demand of the inde
pendent democrats for fusion that al
ways results in fusing one of their own
number into some fat, juicy office. Sc
distinct seems to be the line of division,
that unless the movement is checked
in some way Senator Houk will be
made the leader in reorganization of
the party, with new committee, new
ideals, new purposes, new ends, new
eims and new men. Senator Houk is
quoted as saying that the slogan of the
reorganization will be, "The republi-
can party for republicans, and for the
whole people; not for few self-ap-
pointed so-called leaders who farm
out everything for selfish ends, and
who think that they have right to
become assignee for the one gallus
boys and walk off with all the honors
and all the Offices"
Notwithstanding that Senator Houk
along with Senator Davis kept within
party lines and voted and insisted on
all other republicans voting for repub-
licans for the various offices, they have
done so with such decorum and pro-
priety that in the senate they have as
much infiu snce as any of the members
of any party. And it is now being
recognized that if the republicans Sc
cure any concessions this session in the
way of apportionment in the general
redistricting of the state, it will come
from the diplomatic handling of Houk
and Davis. They do not seem to have
made much fuss, or to have pleased
tho bosses and the powers that assume
the right to dictate, but they are deliv-
ering the goods to republicans, and
this awakening has given strength to
the movement of reorganization.
1t is said that Senator Houk asked
them to cooperate in electing republi-
cans to some of the different state
offices, and that they suggested as a
reason for declining that they could
not afford to vote for any republican
Houk would propose or support. Sena-
tor Houk and Davis then proposed that
they would loyalty support any repub-
lican that the Sanders-Sells people
would nominate, which was also de-
clined. Senator Houk then went about
securing cooperation in detail, and
succeeded in electing Taylor tobe state
treasurer, as republican, with Sells
and Sanders fighting hard battle to
elect Folk, a so.called fusion democrat.
This has greatly discredited the repub-
lican leadership OF Sanders and Sells,
as the rank and file of republicans are
sore over the announcement that none
of them are good enough to receive
support for any office of honor, profit
and trust. Indications point to re-
volt from such leadership and an early
reorganization of the republican party
in Tennessee with Houk as the central
figure The boys are taking to the slo-
gan of the republican party for the re-
publicans," and Senator Houk is re-
ceIving congratulations from all over
the state for his splendid work over
great odds. 1t shows him to be great
leader and developments may come
fast with many surprises. There is an
air of expectancy here at the capital. |
A rumor is current that President Taft |
and Gensral Hitchcock realize that the
leadership of Sanders and Sells has
had hole knocked in it, and that this
is behind the suggestion that Mr.. San
ders is to be sent TO Mexico or some
republic, so as to pave
the way for his retiring from the chair
manship of the republican party in
Tennessee, and open the way to put in
O new man and bridge over the bad
blunder made at Nashville in the effort
TO defeat Taylor, a republican. A man
ceases to be a leader when the people
refuse to follow. Watch developments.
N Az1arsov, of Tonas hOro mas n