The Nashville globe. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1906-193?, 1912-09-27
POLITICAL ACTV-
ITY IN TENNESSEE
ALL PARTIES ARE HAVING THEIR
TROUBLES.
Regulars Force Independents to 81 Iow
Hands-AIl Democrats Want to Be
in Harmony = Believe They
Have Chance to Win Nation.
al Ticket - Republicans
Have Their Trou-
bIes Also.

Political parties in Tennessee are
becoming very active as the month of
september passes out. But the situ-
alton is as perplexing now as it was
six months ago. All parties are having
their troubles. The regular demo
cratic party is making strenuous ef-
forts to elect Ex-Governor McMillin
chief executive of the state again, but
the Independents who had up to the
18th Of the month pretended to be in
harmony with the regular party,
showed their hand in the convention
held at the Auditorium when they
swore vengeance against Ex-Governor
Patterson, who is aspiring to be
United States Senator. Some of the
independents who supported Gov.
Hooper in the last campaign are now
allied with the regular democracy, but
it seems that the rank and file are
still with the fusionists, and it ap-
pears that the old leaders in the indie
pendent ranks have shifted their re-
sponsibilities to other shoulders to
thwart the plans of the regular de-
mocracy But the fight was made so
hot by the regulars that the independ-
ents were forced to show hands, and
the fighting lines are as visible now
as they we're two years ago.
All the democrats want to Ee in
harmony with the national party be-
cause they believe Wilson will win for
President, but so far as state issues
are concerned it seems that the align
ments are about the same now as
they were two years ago in so far as
the local question is concerned. The
regular democrats believe they will
be successful in this years election.
They base their claim on the fact that
this is national election year and also
that many of the Independents who
supported Hopper in 1910 will this
year support the regular democratic
nominees. However, the advent of ex-
Gov Patterson for the United States
Senate has caused new difficulties to
arise, and the fight in the democratic
ranks promises to be as bitter as they
were in 1910.
The republican party has its trou-
bles also East Tennessee is bitter
against Gov Hooper. This bitterness
arose during the last session of the
Legislature and has not subsided yet
There was a combine between the
regular democrats and the regular re-
publicans that lasted through the gen
eral assembly, and it is apparent that
the agreement is still in existence. All
the parties have been sparring for
wind for several months and it is not
clear yet just what course some Of
them will pursue. Added to the reg
ular democrats and independent dem
ocrats, regular republicans and fu-
sionist republicans comes in the activ-
ity of the new Progressive party,
more familiarly known as the Bull
Moose" party All in all, there are
five distinct factions in the political
fight in Tennessee this year.
The Progressives have recently
opened headquarters on Cedar street
styled the Colored Progressive Party
of Tennessee. Mr.. T. Clay Moore is
in charge of the headquarters and the
activity around thereabout is conclu-
sive evidence that the party will not
be without following in Tennessee.
The Negroes of Tennessee are
pretty we'll divided and fair represen-
sentation will be found aligned with
every faction. Never before in the
history of the state has there been so
much independence on the part Of Ne
gro voters, 1t is believed, however,
that the McMillin democrats and the
Hooper republicans will control the
majority of the Negro votes so far as
the state issues are concerned; but
as to a choice for president 1t will be
a close race between Roosevelt and
Taft A considerable number Of Ne
groes will support Wilson for Presi- !
dent. There are those who are frank
enough to say that they cannot accept
Taft and that while they like the |
principles of the progressive party |
they cannot have confidence in Roose-
welt; so, in order to cast a conscien-
tious vote they feel duty-bound to vote
for Gov Wilson for President But
the state issues are engaging the at
tention of the voters generally And
tuls years campaign promises to be
the liveliest in the history of the
state