The Chattanooga news. [volume] (Chattanooga, Tenn.) 1891-1939, 1920-04-12

When the committee convened the
committee, on roll call reported that
delegations from all counties except
Davidson, Bradley, Montgomery,
Shelby and Putnam were entitled to
seats in the convention. These ex-
ceptions are those counties with con-
Testing delegations. Besides this the
counties of Perry, Stewart, Trous-
dale and Houston failed to file ere
/ dentials and hence were also left off
gof the rules.
The secretary was instructed then
TO call the roll of contesting delega-
tions alphabetically.
Bradley was the first county called
and A. j. Fletcher, representing the
Smith delegation, moved that the
contest be dismissed, as the con-
testants represented by Dave Dun
can had failed to comply with the
state committee rule regarding con-
tests in that he did not serve notice
on the Smith delegation. Mr.. Dun
can was given an opportunity to ex-
plain this and he declared that while
1t was true he had not served notice
on the Smith delegation, he had af-
fidavits to show that his delegation
represented a majority of the mass
convention which had been called
to select delegates. He denied that
he had bolted the convention, but
that his side transacted its business
from the rostrum of the courtroom
in which the convention was held,
while the Smith side used chair in
the same room.
that IL the committee decided the mat
ter on technically that it would set
a dangerous precedent, one that would
: bring ruin to the party andSauthorize
any bunch of men to undertake to hold
rnnfp conventions.
The committee. however, insisted on
his sticking to the facts as developed
and answering the question of whether
he had given due notice to the other
side of a contest. He admitted that
he had not done this because his side
was in the majority and he thought
the majority always ruled.
S. H. Thompson. committeeman, said:
mo, this Is not true, often the
minority holds the whip handle"
The vote was then taken and resulted
unanimously in favor of seating the
Smith delegation.
The contests from the other counties
were passed until Tuesday by consent
Of the contestants.
John C. Houk and DIR. R. @. Lilliard.
chairman and secretary, respectively, of
the state campaign committee. then
read their reports of the work which
had been done in organizing the party
in Tennessee. showing the expenses and
all details.
The republican state executive
committee met at IL o'clock; Hal H.
Clements, of Knoxville, it's chairman,
presided: it unanimously chose Con-
gresham Sam Sells to be recon-
mended to the state convention
Wednesday as it's chairman.
Lon Scott, of Hardin county, was
unanimously chosen to be recon-
mended to the convention as its sec
retary. DIR. r. O. Lilliard was unan-
mously chosen to be recommended
to the convention as one of its as
sstant secretaries. There are two
other assistant secretaries to be
chosen. but this action was deferred
until Tuesday morning, at which
time the committee wi meet again.
The recommendation of the commit
tee is equivalent to an election and
Congressman Sells ard the sccreta-
ries will be indorsed md elected by
the convention when it is called to
order Wednesday morning. Con-
tests pending before the committee
were not taken up, but action will
be taken on those contests ready at
2:s0 o'clock Monday afternoon.
Those contests not ready will be de-
cided at Tuesdays meeting.
May Named in 9th District.
The vacancy in the committee
caused by the death of J. A. Alt
houser, of the Sixth district was
filed by the election of Tom =. May,
OF Nashville. Mr.. Mays selection
was unanimous.
A preliminary survey of the hotel
lobby indicated that the convention
would certainly recommend some
one as a candidate for governor
Later in Nthe day. for some reason
or other this sentiment changed ana
by noon it was not certain that the
question of governor would be mcu-
toned on the convention floor. The
matter is still in doubt, as one leader
expressed it. He said that il there
we're more than one candidate then
as a matter of policy and harmony
he thought the convention would
stay off the question, hut II only
one candidate turned up then IL
might be possible to give him the
conventions recommendation.
The congressional district conven-
ton. il is said. will certainly recon-
mend a candidate and that candi-
date will be Hon. Jesse NJ. Little
ton. said an enthusiastic Littleton