Sequachee Valley news. (Sequachee [Sequatchie], Tenn.) 1896-1952, 1904-04-28
UNCLE JOE'S
LETTER.
Written for the News.

A great deal mas been said about
VIM. B. Bate and Benton McMil-
lin OF late aud perhaps as much or
more than the public likes, but in
my ignorant mind something keeps
me wanting to say something aud
if the kindness characteristic oi our
editor will allow, | will ask II few
questions aud would like some one
who is able to do so to answer
them
l want to say thai an not per-
sonally acquainted with either .ol
the gentlemen nor do | feel any
anxiety to he for | we'll know
neither of them would like to be
thus honored. | want to ask
LIST. Who Is VIM. b. Bate2
End. Has he been senator for
years.
3rd. Why should he be kept in
the Senate2
4th. Why should old soldiers
be kept in fat jobs all their lives?
| will say that if Bate ever did
any great deeds tor his country it
must have been in war for there is
no record since, and don't believe
man has any right TO ask honors
for simply doing his duty or be-
cause Yankee shot him. That
was what he was there for-t0
shoot or be shot, and guess he
] WAS then like he has been in the
| Senate, too slow. and the Yankee
got ahead of him,
Now / don't care much which
one gets TO the Senate but it Is a
foolish practice to perpetuatc, office
for whole generation to any one
and especially one whose name You
never hear except when some othN
er hungry cuss tries to snatch his
chunk of Uncle Sans cake.
We do know that Gov. Benton
McMillin has made as good a gov
enor as Tennessee has ever had.
He is a man Of great executive tai
lent and We might, at least, mol
forget he was in the senate.
| like men ike PilchtOrk Til
man and John A. Moon who srt
not afraid to try to do something
whether they can or not.
| think it very poor encourage
ment Tor voters to have nothing
but the cry of YOh, was wounded
in our civil war" 10 urge them II
vote tor the man
Thousands Of just as good ner
as Bate were killed from their fam
lilies OF little children and not a
much as decent burial, and thou
sands were wounded and neveI
have their names been mentioned
as Senators, much less going there
l would be afraid if | were tn
friends of Bate 10 sing such stuff a
Z "old soldier" u intelligent people
| believe we should respect oil
soldiers sufficiently. | also thinl
Bate has been and McMillin, toe
and | don't see that We are unde
any obligations to either ol then
but | suppose one OF them will b.
our next senator and | hope th
, who gets it will improve OH pas
records.
I'd rather be- most anything.
t (Excepting cranks and crooks
: As one who tramps the country Ger
AS agent for some books.
I'd rather be a whiskey man
With nothing 6t to sell,
And feel that l and all my stuff
just ought to be In H.
I'd rather be hotel man
a And have bill of fare
= OF nothing but the toughest meat
And bread you couldn't tear.
q I'd rather be a dairy man,
And selling water straight
Because old Daisy, Dink and Speck
l. Were lying out Of late.
I'd rather be foppish dude,
: Who walks about the town;
My wife at home with all the kids,
o And not decent gown.
= ia rather be most anything,
Without regard to looks,
As one WHO tramps the country DER
And sells old trashy books.