The comet. (Johnson City, Tenn.) 1884-1916, 1908-07-09
To the Coed People Of Washington County.


with reference to the two candidates
for sheriff, AS l suppose he has dis
tributed this unjust literature, as it
seems to me, desire to bring the mat
ter more fully before the people, and I
consider it an honest duty devolving
upon me. On the said Goth of June
Chairman Carter called the com mittee
together at Jonesboro and it being
such busy time, there were only
eight of the committee present, and
while it was the desire of Sheriff Haw.
kins that the entire committee should
be present, yet the committee being 80
equally divided between the two can
didates Sheriff Hawkins did agree on
that morning, While the committee
was so we'll divided, to place himself at
the mercy of the committee, provided
Mr.. Hartsell would do likewise. Mr..
Hartsell not being present and not
coming until in the evening after the
IL O'Clock train had run, some Of Sher-
if Hawkins supporters had left town,
thereby leaving a majority of the COM
mittee present in favor of Mr.. Hartsell,
and it would have been very foolish in
deed for Sheriff Hawkins to continue
said proposition with the committee in
that condition. The friends of Sheriff
Hawkins Il for one) asked him not to
think of doing so, but to wait until the
entirs committee could be present, and
Sheriff Hawkins agreed to this not Only
to me but publicly. am of the opinion
that if Chairman Carter had viewed the
matter without prejudice he would
have agreed to this. Sheriff Hawkins
made another proposition, as follows
"Mr. Chairman, l will allow you, and
only two more of the committee (while
there are number more could swear,
to hold up your hands and swear what
You know as to whether MIR. HartselI
did or did not get the nomination by
fraud, and if the. sworn testimony oil
you does convince this committee thai
he did not his nomination frAudulently,
l will step down and out and give the
track to MIR. Hsrtsell." Gentlemen,
what was fairer than that2 l say al
one of the committee that Sheriff Haw'
kins on that day did everything that
was fair and reasonable, but step down
and out, the only thing that would
have pleased the chairman, it seems.
While Mr.. Carter and are friends,
can not and will not allow such unjust
statements To be rSatt*rtd over til.
county, sfisctinY NJ coed y man AZ J
l. Ha~ klns, AID say nothing. While
friend Carter phases the entire blame
of not getting this matter settled, on
Sheriff HIwklns, On that day. or in
other rds in not getting Hawkins
IF the track | wan. to share part of
the blame myself, if any one 10 ,ku
upon Sheriff Hawkins as having done
anything wrong on that day. Sheriff
Hawkins did exactly M his friend.
asked him TO do. have talked with
one OF the committee since that day
and he is Mr. Harris el's friend, and
he says we did not give Sheriff Han.
kins Justice by not making another
effort to get the committee together
think, if the chairman is going tC
follow the Jules of elections 81 closely
that he had better look after the
rules governing primaries a little
more closely.
Please consider the oath Mr.. Hart
sell has taken:
II solemnly swear that | have used
no money nor caused to be used any
money, any promise of Office, or any
consideration of any value Whatever
to secure my nomination for sheriff
in the republican primary ell ctioI
in Washington county, Tennessee, on
April 30th, 1908, and that have, il
all respects complied with the rule,
and regulations as required by The
regular republican executive commit
tee of Washington county.
(Signed) A. s HARTSELL"
Sworn to before me, this 2nd day o
May, 1908.
P Q. MILLER, J.P.
If the above oath was improperly
taken, what do YOU think of the man
who took il? Is he suitable man
for sheriff?
The chairman ought to stop his
abuse or swear TO what he know
whe asked to do 40. AS for me an
. republican and believe 10 republl
can principles, Away with such 70
rs that, we must 1911 INTO line ant
support nominee II" matter how h.
gets his nomination. So long rs th,
. voters of Washington county cuntil
ue to do this uot so long will thi
| corruption exist. long to see tn,
time, when |, with all the voters 0
: the county, state and nation can ant
4 will walk up to the ballot box an,
cast our votes for principles sake an,
not for fellow just because he he's il
- some way or other been d clared h
9 nominee. Now, fellow CT ixens, L.
n us conscientionsly consider this nut
y ter and 20 on record on the 9th q