Crossville chronicle. [volume] (Crossville, Tenn.) 1894-current, 1915-03-03
PRETTY FIGHT ON
IN LEGISLATURE
Congressional Delegation Expected to
Takea Hand Against Senator Lea
In Naming the Two Men for
Election Commission.

Nashville, Tenn, March 2.-Immedi.
ately after the adjournment of Con-
gress on March 4th every democratic
member of the Tennessee delegation
will catch the first train out of Wash
ington for Nashville.
One delegation will be headed by
Senator Shields and will be composed
of Representatives Moon, Hull, Hous-
ton, Byrns Padgett, Sims Garrett and
Mcclellan. The other delegation will
consist of Senator Lea.
LEA WANTS transformers.
Senator Lea will, 1T is said, under
take to have the legislature fill the
vacancies in the state board of cleo
tions with democrats favorable to him.
He will undertake to have the legisla-
ture pass law without the runoff fea
ture by which the candidate receiving
plurality of the votes in the primary
may be declared the nominee.
SHIELDS WILL OPPOSE LEA.
Senator Shields and the other men,
bers of Congress propose to make
contest for members on the board of
election who are democrats and not
necessarily avowed Lea men.
= They propose to insist on primary
law requiring candidates for Congress
and for the United States senate to re-
ceive majority of all the votes cast
in the primary IN order to secure the
nomination.
ICSITECI,I EAP CIT
The issues are clear cut. There Is to
be no "bushwhacklng, The fight is
to be open and above board, strictly
Lea and anti. Lea. Heretofore the op
position to Senator Lea has been in the
attitude OF opposing Gov. Rye. that is.
by some newspapers of the state.
That charge no longer holds good and
no longer frightens those democrats
of Tennessee who demand that the two
United States senators trou Tennessee
shall he elected by democrats.
Gov. Rye has no stronger frlenus and
supporters than Senator Shields and
the Tennessee delegation in Congress.
Besides, Gov. Rye has manifested abIl-
1ty to take care of his own interests
and hereafter the cry that opposition
to any other Office seeker in Tennessee
is slap at Rye will be childish as well
as futile.
Numerous members of Congress
have written members of the legisIa- |
ture from their districts stating posi-
lively that Senator Lea IS endeavorIng
to dictate the election commissioners
and urging them to stand firm.
LEA IS FOR MCCONNELL.
K. T. McConnlco is the selection of !
Senator Lea for election commissioner
from middle Tennessee but his chance
of election is slight. He probably !
could muster as much strength as any
other candidate with the approval of !
Senator Lea but that is just where the .
rub comes.
ANTI-LEA FOR McALISTER.
The other members of Congress do
not propose to have candidate con-
trolled by any man. Already the
Davidson delegation has broken away
from the control of Senator Lea and
agreed to vote for the Hon. Hill Nc
who undoubtedly meets the
approval of the anti-Lea democrats of
Tennessee
This will give the anti-Lea members
Of the legisa ture majority in the
democratic caucus, it is believed.
However If 1T will not then there will
be no caucus. The republicans and in
iependents in the Legislature want to
have a voice in the matter and are 4
most anxious to line up with that fac
ton opposed to Senator Lea.
The question of who is to oppose
Senator Lea is one that mas not been
discussed. 1t may be any one OF the :
delegation, it may be
'ormer Gov. Patterson, I. r. Preston,
'Ormer Senator Frazier, in fact, any ,
me of dozen good democrats. it is
90 early for that subject to be injected ,
nto the issue. The problem is to pre- A
-ent Senator Lea from manipulating
he officers of election. the primary I
avs and otherwise working the wires v
o grab the non nation.
The object IT the opposition is ia n
revent any candidate from securing a
ominatlon by gu stionaDle means and
hereby endaDger he prospect of elect
NJ a democrat { senator. 1t is fur
hermore necessary for the opposition
, throttle Seuator LEAFS well known
Ian to have himself elected this year q
nd Gen CHAR 2. Gates of Knox a
lille elected two Years hence to sue "
eed Senator SHE 3, N
WHY Or )SE LEA. a,
Why this unani Gus opposition to y