The Columbia Herald

CHAIRMAN WANTS MAURY PASSED

Says the Committee Should Settle Matter at Home--Petition for Call Has Been Signed and Sent to Mr. Peebles.

(Tuesday's Daily.)

The matter of the selection of the election commissioners for Maury county has been the bone of much contention since the opinion of Judge Allison on the election law, and more than one bright and blooming prospect has builded only to see his glory fade at the behest of some politician before it reached the light of day.

On each suggestion there have been protests and counter protests until there was no end to the wrangle, and only the action of the state commission appears to be able to settle the disturbance among the regulars, who have preached harmony to the fusionists until their vocabulary has been completely exhausted, and they are now silent as to the turbulence in their own ranks.

At first it was tipped that the commission for the county would be T. H. Peebles, W. J. Towler and Wm. Barker, but it was only a short time till it was manifest that some others wanted the privilege of counting the ballots, and a petition was started for the signatures of the committee.

It is stated that this petition first contained the names of M. E. Allen and Dr. C. Y. Clarke, but later the name of Dr. Clarke was dropped and John M. Burns substituted. The petition asks that these two men be named as the democratic members of the county commission, and it is stated that a majority of the committee have signed it, and that it will be presented to the alleged state commissioners when they meet today, and W. C. Whitthorne is in Nashville for that purpose.

Attorney Thomas H. Peebles, chairman of the county committee, and a power in the ranks, will appear before the commission and ask that Maury county be passed, and that the committee be allowed to meet and make the fight at home, in order that a united front might be presented to the state officers.

It is also stated that the committee will be called together at an early date for this purpose, a sufficient number having signed the request to the chairman to make the call.

The objections to the petition appear not to be on the men mentioned for the places, but to the manner of proceeding, those objecting stating that the committee in proper session ought to pass upon the endorsement.
MAURY PASSED BY STATE BOARD

County Committee May Be Called for the First Monday in July and From This Time Forth the Fight Will Be in the Open.

Chairman Peebles is wearing a smile that won't come off, at least until after the committee meeting, which will probably take place the first Monday in July.

The reason for this smile is that the chairman prevented the appointment of M. E. Allen and John M. Burns as the democratic election commissioners for Maury county by the alleged state board in its meeting Tuesday, notwithstanding the fact that it is stated a petition signed by a good majority of the committee was in the capital city in the hands of parties properly authorized to present it to the state board.

Just why the chairman opposed the appointment of Messrs. Allen and Burns was not stated, but the state board recognized the request of the chairman and passed Maury county to await the action of the committee.

The call for the committee meeting will be issued by the chairman when it is determined as to the convenience of the action of the state board, and it is thought most likely that the first Monday in July will be the best time for the meeting.

Those who were anxious for the fight to be over by the appointment of their men were of course disappointed, but say they are not afraid of the action of the committee, as they are in possession of a petition with a majority of their signatures endorsing Allen and Burns.

In the scramble for the appointment of the regular democrats the third man has been lost sight of. It is generally believed that Wm. Barker will be the third man, but he was unable to go to Nashville Tuesday on account of being interested in a law suit in court. Not Barkis but Barker is willing, but when the show down comes it may be that there will be some objections to him, particularly if the Allen and Burns crowd should win, as it is known that he asked the progressive member, Mr. Alexander, to agree to the request of Chairman Peebles in passing Maury without action at present.

Up to the present there has been considerable activity but it was rather on the quiet. From this time on the fight will be in the open, and no quarters asked, and in the end there will have to be some explaining in order to get political robes on straight.