The Columbia herald. [volume] (Columbia, Tenn.) 18??-1935, 1912-05-03

county. he udQ III the medHLlme
been graduated from the law depart
ment of Cumberland University at
Lebanon, and soon obtained promi-
nent place at the bar. When the war
commenced Col. Cox was one of the
first volunteers and entered the Con-
federate army early in that great
struggle. He was made colonel of
the Tenth Tennessee, of Forests
command. His war career was a
brilliant one. He was valorous and
devoted soldier
CO.. Cox resumed the practice of
his profession at the close of the
var between the states. He rapidly
his profession. He also engaged in
banking and for the past thirty. five
years has been active in banking cir
cles. He was at the time of his death
president o. the First National Bank
ut this place. He also held large
farming interests and his estate is es-
timated at $4,000.
But it was in politics that Col. Cox
left his lasting impression upon the
people of this section. 1t was long
mis- ambition to be member of con-
gress, but he did not attain his cher
| ished desire until 1890. In that year
he defeated the late Washington Cur
ran Whitthorne. of Maury county, in
one Of the most memorable and ex-
citing conventions or series of con-
ventions ever known in the annals of
Tennessee. In order to obtain the
nominatior it was necessary for
Cox's followers in the convention to
aDrogate the time honored two-thirds
rule which had uniformly prevailed
| in democratic councils of the state.
That convention marked the begin
ming of the end of the two-thirds rule
n Tennessee Four years later the
state democratic convention formally
aDrogated it and since then all NOM
rations in convention have been
made by majority vote.
This notable convention met at
Franklin. Cox had a majority, but
lacked the necessary two-thirds to
nominate, the vote being Cox 80;
Wnitthorne 60. After days and days
Of weary ballotting the convention
adjourned without a nomination and
the question was again referred to
the PEOPLE of the several counties,
BUT when the convention reconvened
there was no perceptible change and
the balloting continued for ballot af-
ter ballot The partisans Of both
candidates stood firm. Gen. Whit
thorne had served his state with dis
tinction in war, as member of leg
isiature, for sixteen years as repre-
sentative In congress, and for por-
ton of term in the senate of the
United States. His followers were
loyal and devoted and refused to
Weld even to a majority of the con-
yention. His fight was led by the
late Edward Ward Carmack, then be-
ginning that brilliant and meteoric
career that was to remain forever the
bride and heritage of his state and
nation.
Ballot after ballot was called. The
Whitihorne minority stood as reso-
lutte and stubborn as the thin red line
of the British during that long hot
Jav at Waterloo and refused to yield
an inch. Finally the Cox leaders eau
cuseo When they returned to the
convention hall a motion was offered
n abrogate the two-thirds rule and
nominate by majority. Mr.. Carmack
took the stand and in speech that
clearly pressaged the career that was
opening for MIN as an orator pledueu
for the retention Of the time honcred
traditions of the old party. He de
nounced the efforts to change the
rules Of the game while the contest
was IN progress. But his effort, al
though mastery, earnest, eloquent
and convincing, was In vain. The
majority appealed to the traditional