Public Ledger

THE FOURTH DISTRICT

The Congressional convention which met at Hartsville last Thursday to choose a successor to the late John W. Head as a Representative in Congress, nominated Judge Samuel M. Fite, as published in the Ledger dispatches. The convention lasted two days and was one of unusual interest. The district consists of Clay, Fentress, Jackson, Macon, Overton, Putnam, Robertson, Smith, Sumner, Trousdale and Wilson counties, and was represented in this convention by 214 votes. Judge G. W. Allen, of Sumner was president, and the two-thirds rule unanimously adopted. The following gentlemen were put in nomination: J. D. Goodpasture, of Overton; R. A. Cox, of Jackson; A. B. Martin, of Wilson; Jo. C. Stark, of Robertson; E. I. Golladay, of Wilson; N. W. McConnell, of Trousdale; and Thomas Boyers, of Sumner. Judge Fite was not put in nomination until the eighteenth ballot. After seven more ballots he was withdrawn, but on the thirty-sixth ballot renominated. Colonel J. J. Turner was brought in the second day on about the sixtieth ballot. The sixty fourth ballot stood-Fite 71, McConnell 142. McConnell lacked only one-sixth of one vote of securing the nomination on this ballot. Fite was dropped again, and Riddle brought in. On the one hundred and first ballot the vote stood- Riddle 140, Stark 74, Riddle lacking only 2 votes of nomination. W. A. Caruthers, of Trousdale, was brought in, but developed no strength. On the one hundred and eighth ballot the vote stood-Fite 125, Hon. Balie Peyton 88. On the next ballot Fite went through, but was not present to make a speech. Altogether it must have been one of the most interesting and closely contested contests of the kind ever seen in Tennessee. Judge Fite is a resident of Carthage, is Judge of the Fifth Judicial Circuit, a man of ability, spotless character, and in every way worthy to represent the State in Congress.