The comet. (Johnson City, Tenn.) 1884-1916, 1912-03-14
Copyright)

was in close touch with every move
ment of the regular committee, and
when lie left for Washington late in
the afternoon he committed his inter
ests to the hands of his friends ON the
regular committee.
For time it appeared that if there
was a rift in the clouds the senatorial
race might assume tangible form, but
the clouds only lowered, and Senator
Taylor left disappointed and Gov. Pat
terson remained undecided. The former
governor had two large rooms, which
looked very much like headquarters.
Friends congregated there throughout
the day and pressure was brought to
bear upon him to announce for the
senate.
He had nothing to say tor light, and
if he reached any decision in the mat
ter he did not so state. The feature of
the days conferences was the disposi-
tion of the Patterson element and the
extreme independents to get together.
The two hostile factions which have
heretofore been relentless all but fell
upon each others neck tonight, and if
they had trusted each other in all like
lihood they would.
The ex-independents, including Maj.
Vertrees, who announced that they
were independents for the elimination
of Patterson, stood their gound again
today and opposed him as unalterably
as ever.
Did Not Expect Harmony.
There was about the entire program
today an insiduous undercurrent which
has not permitted one to feel that the
committees were acting in good laith
with themselves or with each other.
There was never a doubt in the
minds of the independents that no
matter what proposition they advocat-
ed that it would be repudiated by the
regulars. They accordingly took some
steps toward harmony, more for The
purpose of getting the regulars in, as
they called ii, box, than with the ex-
pectation that any good could result.
When Mr.. Mountcastle proposed that
the original Mack telegram should be
offered TO the regulars, every one knew
and some confessed that it was simply
exhibit A for the perusal of the nation
al committee when it comes to pass on
the validity of the Tennessee delegation.
Maj. Vertrees, when he altered the
primary plan to meet former require
ments, knew, or was the only person
who did not know, that the primary
plan had gone by the board, and that
the independents would plead the stat
ute of limitation.
The indications are that several
members of the independent committee
will resign. g. A. Miller, of Harde-
man, will probably join the regulars.
Tom johnson may go to the republic
cans, and Col. Amis will quit the ranks
to devote his time to the disturbance in
the Seventh congressional district
Committees Disrupted.
The regular committee is disrupted,
but the members will retain their affil-
iation. The control of the committee
with full delegation is still question
able, and the losers of today will not
concede that Patterson's strength has
dwindIed to hopeless minority.
1t is generally conceded that joint
conference Of the two committees today
would have resulted in q settlement.
Instead of that they were forty-five
feet apart, writing formal, long and
unintelligible documents and deliver
ing them through committees Major
Vertrees did not want joint meeting
and he prevented it. Such meeting
would have disposed Of both commit