The comet. (Johnson City, Tenn.) 1884-1916, 1912-07-18

Elizabethton; d. e. Swab, Hartranft
SecOnd-John q. Houk, Knoxville
Sam Brazeale, Hartman.
Third-John E. Ellington, Chattanoo
ga; A. ]. Fletcher, Cleveland.
Fourth-John E. Oliver, Cookeville
the other to be named later.
Fifth-W. H. Crowmen, Shelbyville
r. @. Stewart, Murfreesboro.
Sixth-W. w. Taylor, T. J. Lowell
Nashville.
Seventh-Dr. w. K. Sheddan
Columbia; r. P. West, Pulaski.
Eighth-Geerge w. Partin, Parsons
the other to be named later.
Ninth-G. Tom Taylor, Union City
w. f. Poston, Alamo.
Tenth-T. e. Barnes and Harry r..
Anderson, Memphis.
For temporary chairman for the con-
vention, Harry B. Anderson had been
selected. Among those present at the
meeting today were: G. T. Taylor,
Harry b. Anderson, John &. Houk,
William Barker, 2. D. Massey, w. F..
Poston, T. ]. Lowell, J. B. Shoun.
Neither w. ]. Oliver, the real head
of the Roosevelt party in Tennessee,
nor Judge II. B. Lindsay was present.
Revenge is the Motive.
This movement is ostensibIy for
Roosevelt, but there is no denying the
fact that revenge is the moving senti-
ment for the promoters of this move
ment. Prior to the last republican
state convention, John G. Houk boldly
advocated the putting out of state
ticket, the organization of an independ-
ent republican movement and fusion
deal with the regular democrats.
After the meeting today one of the
prominent members stated that this
movement means something and that
if they can't get what they want they
can at least get revenge for past sights,
real or fancied. He said that they
would smoke Hooper out and he will
be forced to take stand either for
Taft or for Roosevelt. This same
man claimed that many regular
democrats will support Roosevelt in
preference to Wilson. They are work.
ing ON the idea that Wilson is not the
of the independents so far as
Tennessee is concerned and they take
the position that if Wilson is elected
President the regular democratic party
will be killed IN Tennessee. Believing
hat many democrats look at this
matter from this standpoint they claim
they, notably from Maury county,
numbers of regular democrats who
will line up with the insurgent
and vote for Roosevelt.
Hook and Taylor Lead
The prime mover in the meeting is
John g. Houk, ably assisted by 6.
Tom Taylor and these men have taken
he fight of the independent democrats
or the past two years as their cue and
will attempt to put on foot the same
Kind of an organization with the view
If fusion with the regular democrats.
they do not attempt to conceal this
,lan, but they will try to bring the
democrats into their column rather
han stay in the democratic column
where most of them have voted during
he past four or five years.
Today was field day at Murfreesboro
Or the Democratic candidates for gov
rnor and practically sll of them spoke
here to large crowds.
This evening Comptroller Frank Di-
rell made public his reply to I. r.
'reston's inquiry as chairman of the
AK commission for information rela-
i've to his office. 1t was relative TO
his statement that the meeting of the
etainers of this Office were here in
orce yesterday and last night.
The statement covers many pages,
'ut the gist of it is that the back tax
fiice has collected during the past few
ears an amount in excess of 81, 900, 600
nd at cost of about ID per cent 1t
J claimed that but for auditing and
ther expenses the cost would not have
'een more than 10 per cent. 1t is
hown that since the prohibition law
vent into effect an amount in excess
# one-half million dollars has been
and that if the counties have