The comet. (Johnson City, Tenn.) 1884-1916, 1912-02-29

other business as may COulC OCAOiO ChS
committee. Very respectfully,
r. &. FLETCHER,
HILL M'ALISTER,
FRANK SPURLOCK.
independents Endeavor to Clear
Their Skirts.
The request was not granted. In
stead, Mr.. Sneed responded with the
following reply:
Nashville, Feb. %, 19l2-Messrs. r.,
8. Fletcher, Frank Spurlock, Hill Nc
Alister-Gentlemen: Your communica-
ton of this date reiterating the conclu-
sion expressed by you in your commu-
nication of the 22d instant, and contin-
uing to ignore our statement OF the
fact to the effect that it is manifest
there was no agreement reached by the
two democratic state committees and
our further statement that because
there was no agreement we did not feel
authorized to act, and also ignoring
our request that you join with us in
bringing about meeting OF the two
state committees for the purpose Of
eliminating differences and reaching
an agreement, was handed to me at IL
O'Clock q. m., the time named in your
communication for meeting with Hon.
Frank M. Thompson, Frank M. Ewing
and myself, and, as l understand you
had information that Mr.. Thompson
had made arrangements to leave Nash
willie for Chattanooga at that time, and
that Mr.. Spurlock had already left for
the train to Chattanooga when your
letter was delivered to me, it seems fair
for me TO assume that you did not real
ly expect to have a meeting at the
time named by you. Further, do not
understand how you can expect us to
meet with you to elect the seventh
member Of the proposed primary board
in view of your apparent acquiescence
in--at least you do not controvert-our
statement that there was no agreement
reached by the two state committees,
and that, therefore, we have not yet
been clothed with authority to act as
members OF said primary board.
For myself, permit me to express re-
gret that you declined to join with us
in an effort to secure an agreement
about which there can be no question
on the part of the two state commit
+. r. sNEED.
Democrats Report Inability to
Organize.
On receipt OF the above letter Messrs
McAlister, Spuriock and Fletcher ad
dressed the following communication
| to Chairman Vertrees
Nashville, Feb. 23, 1912-Hon. W. o
Vertrees, chairman democratic execu
tive committee of Tennessee, Nashville
Tenn.-Dear Sir: 1t is with sincere re
gret and deep disappointment that w
are compelled to advise you of our ina
bility to organize the committee ap
pointed in January to conduct demo
cratic primary on April q.
Since our appointment by you or
January "a, as members of this com
mittee, we have made repeated efforts
to secure meeting of the six member
for the purpose of entering upon tn
duties intrusted to US. We had no rea
son to doubt up to February 10 that WI
would proceed with the cooperation o
ALI six members. On February 10, ant
again on February 22, we received
written communications from Messrs
Frank NJ. Thompson, Frank M. Ewint
and r.. r. Sneed, wherein they declined
to meet us for the purpose Of puttinl
into execution the powers conferred VI
on us. We enclose the communication
referred to, together with copies OF ou
replies to them, which we submit with
out comment for your consideration.
i Yours very respectfully,
i r. S. FLETCHER,
FRANK SPURLOCK,
HILL M'ALISTER.
Chairman Vertrees Says Democrat
4 Will Win.
j A reporter met Maj. Vertrees on tn
street late Friday afternoon and aske
him for an expression on the situation