Lawrence democrat. (Lawrenceburg, Tenn.) 1884-1925, 1912-03-13
Democratic Harmony
Fails at Nashville
Candidates and Many Of the Rank
and File Bitterly Disappointed
Signs Of Disintegration in
Both Committees. Patterson
May Join with Independents.
From The Memphis cOmmsrcial.Appsal

monv in the Democratic party this year
II will come over the protest Of two
fractional state committees, which today
in The inordnaie fear Of each other,
met, deliberaled, conferred and ad
iourned, with the party scism more in
evidence than at any time in recent
months W o. Verirees dominated the
REGULAR committee by small majority.
Enloe and Mountcaslle we're The direc-
tors Of The independent fight, and their
genius was in evidence more than once.
Judge Shields was in the hotel, and
manV OF his friends called on him.
Gov. Patterson was a factor 10 the
REGULAR committee meeting. Austin
Peay and J. D 6 Morton were the har-
mOnY champions and recognized as the
Patterson representatives They did
not give up the fight until the last ses.
sion Of the committee when they made
a motion that the two committees meet
in joint conference and settle for all
time TO come their party differences.
Vertrees opposed the motion aud il was
defeated by vote Of 10 to 9. The
fact is conceded that joint conference
OF the two committees would have re-
suited in a settlement But instead OF
that they were As feet apart writing
long, formal and unintellieible docu-
menis and delivering them through
committees. Maj. Verlrees did mol
want joint meeting and he prevented
il. Such a meeting would have dis
posed Of both committees, including
Barton and Vertrees himself. and left
it to the people of the state TO re-Orean.
ize tie committee to suit themselves
without reference to past party af!ilia
ton. Vertrees claims that he has z
clear title to the leadership Of the par
tv and that he does moi propose TO sur.
render II to ANYBODY. Other regulars
claim that in saving his own polilica
power he has contributed to the widen
ing of the party breach. He knew
what a joint conference would do anC
he aVoided II. He said tonight that b.
would moi have had chance agains
the Patterson regulars and the indie
pendents in joint meeting The in
dendents have their plans and the pro
posaIs made TO The regulars, which the
: will take before The people as evidenc,
of their Good faith in the work Of har
, mony.
Norman E. Mack, chairman of tn,
| national committee, injected himself in
to the disturbance with a message tC
Barton and Vertrees in which he sue
f eested committee of five from eacl
faction and an eleventh member to b,
selected by the ten to take the Situa
ton in hand. This SUGGESTION was &C
ceptable to the independents, but wa
turned down by Vertrees who does no
| feel kindly towards Mr.. Mack becans
of his refusal to recognize J. J. Vertrse
|, as national committeeman and the Yer
trees committee as the only democratic
organization.
! The primary Of the regulars wa
changed from April II to May IS, ant
! Mai, Vertrees claims that the bieges
vote ever polled in a primary will b.
3 polled therein. The independents or
dered a convention tor May is, TO Sc
lect delegates to the national conven
ton and nominate judicial candidates
The regulars were strangely reclusivt
5 in their operations, excluding the publ
l entirely from the rooms. There wer
discussions in both committees. Som
OF the Patterson regulars and some o
the strongest independents have beef
, comforting tonight with the view Of har
. monV between the factions, Gov. Pat
terson was uot party TO any OF tn,
conferences and declined 10 make an
statement, The candidates were all il
t attendance and the failure Of the com
mittees TO agree was a distinct anC
bitter disappointment. Senator Taylo
! was here and it is said contributed Il
the net results Of the day in iurthe
5 disruptine the democratic party by hi
influencing Mr.. Hickey in casting hi
vote with Vertrees and against harmo
nv.
The Tennessean gives the following
, as the vote in the Vertrees committe
! on the Mack harmony plant
: Morton, Bachman. Barr, Lew
IS Williamson, Stainback, McGreV