McNairy County independent. (Selmer, McNairy County, Tenn.) 1902-1969, 1916-08-11
Majority Favor Constitution,


Majority Favor Constitution,
Owing to delay in receiving re.
turns from the general election held
Aug. 3 in Tennessee, in which county
officers were elected, the question OF
constitutional convention was sub.
mitted and a nunber of Democratic
primaries to select congressional and
legislative nominees were held, def
mite announcement Of the result in all
the contests cannot yet be stated.
In the matter of a constitutional
convention the absence of returns
from more than 40 counties in the state
makes the outcome uncertain. Re-
turns which have been received from
AZ counties on the question show a ma
jority of 14,100 votes for convention.
or the unreported counties 16 are In
East Tennessee, 19 are In Middle Ten.
nessee and In West Tennessee.
Leaders in the movement for new
constitution appear to be confident
that the final or official count will
show a good, safe majority for con-
vention. They base their hopes on re.
ports received from the counties which
have not yet reported the vote on
submission.
It is conceded that all the larger
counties have given heavy majorities
in favor of convention and the only
opposition appears to have been in
East Tennessee, with occasionally a
good-sized county in Middle and West
Tennessee taking positive stand
against submission.
There has been more or less care
lessness in reporting the election. and
1t is likely that 1t will require the O.
fetal canvass In all the counties next
Monday to determine the result.
OF the congressional primaries the
result in the Fifth district, in which
William c. Houston, George l.. Del
mer and Ewin L. Davis were the OPP
ponents, Is still regarded as uncertain.
However, friends Of Congressman
Houston claim that the congressman
has received a majority over Davis
and Delmer of 140 votes, which makes
him the nominee. On the other hand,
friends of Judge Davis are equally GER
tain that Congressman Houston failed
to receive a majority of the votes cast
Thursday, and that it will be neces-
sary to hold run-off primary.
Neither side has issued statement
to the press as to the votes claimed.
The primary was held under the direc-
ton of the Fifth district Democratic
committee and the returns will he
made to the committee.
The vote received by George K Del
mer will play an important figure in
this contest. 1t is said by some per.
sons assuming to know that Delmer
received more votes than have been
credited to him, from the fact that
the rival partisans of Houston and
Davis overlooked Delmer in their anx-
iety to secure the returns.
Besides the county officers elected
last week, two chancellors, three cir
cult judges, two criminal court judges
and four attorneys-general were elect
ed. Hon. James B. Newman of Nash
Vile was chosen chancellor in part 2
of Davidson, while F. H. Mercer of
McMinnville was elected chancellor in
the Twelfth division, also in Middle
Tennessee.
John B. Hollway of Morristown, who
was assistant encouragement Of the
Second circuit district in East Tennes-
see, was elected Judge of the district.
Frank L. Lynch of Winchester was
elected Judge of the Eighteenth circuit
district, while Ben L. Capell was elect
ed Judge of the Second circuit court Of
Shelby county.
At the election the following were
elected to judicial positions:
James B. Newman, chancellor, Nash.
Vile, part 2, Davidson county, Sew
enth division.
F. H. Mercer, chancellor, McMinn-
Vile, Twelfth division.
Circuit Court Judges-John B. Hol-
loway, Morristown, Second district;
Frank L. Lynch, Winchester, Eigh'
teenth district; Ben l.. Capell. Mem
phis, Second division, Shelby county
circuit.
Criminal Court Judges-David b.
Puryear, First division, Shelby crimi'
nal court, Memphis; Thos. w. Harsh,
Memphis, Second division, Shelby
criminal court.
Attorneys-G eneral-Thirteenth dis
trict, M. Hillsman Taylor. Trenton;
Fourteenth district, T. o. Morris. I'm.
ion City; Sixteenth district, Nat A.
Upton, Covington; Eighteenth dis
trict, Ben G Mckenzie, Dayton.