By 1900 , Brownlow effectively controlled the Tennessee Republican Party . At the state party convention in Nashville that year , Brownlow was elected chairman , and his allies on the committee granted him the power to reject any candidate for office . Outraged , Evans and his supporters marched out of the convention , and held a rival convention across town . Both conventions sent delegates to the 1900 Republican National Convention , but Brownlow 's were awarded most of the state 's seats . Brownlow easily beat back a primary challenge from Judge H. Tyler Campbell that year . John E. McCall , a Brownlow ally , was the party 's nominee for governor
1900 Republican National Convention
1900 Republican National Convention
Walter P. Brownlow