The comet. (Johnson City, Tenn.) 1884-1916, 1912-09-26
THE STATE CAMPAIGN.

We are about to enter into q cam
paign that threatens to divide the peo-
pie of Tennessee into warning factions.
The material, the educational develop
ment of the state will have to wait
until we are through fighting and
abusing one another. When the DEM
ocratic executive committee refuses to
call off the senatorial primary notes of
discord were blown from every bugle
in Tennessee.
Some democrats swear they will
move heaven and earth to defeat Pat
terson. Other politicians are taking
advantage of this issue and are using
it as means of giving comfort and
aid to the republicans, who are cam
paigning for control of the state offices.
Men who were strongest for the har-
mony plan are now fighting it. Before
this harmony plan was agreed upon
and ratified by a convention, the men
who worked it out discussed every pos
sible phase. At first it was thought
by many that it would be we'll to have
the selections for all the offices decided
in one primary.
Then it was suggested that harmony
might be brought by deferring the
senatorial primary until November.
If we were to have political civil war
because of the senatorship the delegates
thought that at least we could save the
governorship from this war. Now we
find an attempt to defeat McMillin on
a charge that he is partner with Pat.
terson in all his fell designs. This looks
as if the republicans knew they cannot
beat the democrats on square out and
out issue. If, then, they are seeking
to defeat the democrats on a false issue,
are their tactics such as to command
the support of any so-called indepen-
dent?
Certain papers in the state are intol.
Grant in their support of Wilson and
intolerant in their denunciation of
McMillin. We find other papers call
ing upon "Wi1son democrats" to make
a war to the knife on Pattersonism.
The Nashville Tennessean calls upon
Wilson democrats to see to it that leg
iSlators are elected who will vote
against Patterson. This means that
if Patterson should beat MeAlister in
the primary, the Tennessean will not
support the nominee.
Gov. Wilson is an advocate of the
rule Of the people. A primary is the
best ex preston we can have of the rule |
of the people.
The independents and the progress
i've democrats were all demanding pri-
maries six months ago. Then why |
not accept the result of primaries? If
the anti-Patterson democrats rally to a
man there are enough of them in every
precinct in this state to secure a fair
deal and fair count.
This paper holds no brief for Mr..
Patterson or for any other man runn-
ing for office This paper is support
ing McMillin for governor because he
is the nominee of the democrat party,
and because he is worthy of the office.
The democrat party has appointed
way and means of making senatorial
selections. We believe that any con-
'estant, if he has majority of the
voters of the state behind him, can
win in that election. We do believe
hat the election should end the con-
,roversy, unless, forsooth, the republic
,ans themselves can muster enough
'epubllcan votes to carry majority of
he legislature. There is no honest
eason why any man who claims to be
| democrat should seize upon the sem I
Itorial primary as an excuse for voting
gainst the democratic nominee for
acknowledgements Commercial APP |.
ZEAL