The Jeffersonian. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1907-1917, 1910-06-09
PAGE EIGHTEEN

books all the time, and neglecting
the important issues of the day.
One of these issues is the Con-
gressional race between Lee and
Wright in the 7th district. I've just
been reading letter entitled "Uncle
RUDE" that evidently was not written
by an old farmer, as many papers in
editorial comments seem to indicate,
but was written by some schening
politician. It's author had little
enough sense to put it in language
indicating ignorance. a negro Ian
guage, a language that the "old
ignorant farmer could understand.
He seems to think the people ad-
dressed haven't any sense. What an
objectionable blunder. Farmers are
not fools.
Now, let's come to the point. You
know Gordon Lee, after faithfully
promising Nose Wright, in the spring
of 1908, not to run for Congress any
more, if Wright would only come
down and give him his loyal support
Wright conceded to his request like
a man, and now Lee, in disregard of
solemn pledge, has the audacity to
ask his beloved" constituents to
send him back again.
During the summer of 1906 I
wrote to West Point Academy for all
the information it could give relative
to obtaining an entrance there. The
literature sent me plainly indicated
that if I would stand a better COM
petitive examination than twelve or
fifteen other boys the appointment
was mine. Laboring under this in
formation, I borrowed money the fol-
lowing fall to take a special course
under old Prof. Bryan, at Ringgold,
so that might be prepared when ex-
animation came (for farmers sons
don't have the school advantages of
many other boys).
One day Gordon Lee CHANGED to
come that way to attend a rich we'd
ding feast. Timid though I was, I
got an Introduction to the distin-
guished gentleman, and told him
that l wished to try the examination
for a place at West Point. After
questioning me for time and finding
that [ was only the son of a lowly
farmer, he said, "That appointment
is not made until 1905" "Well," I
said, IT know that, but the law re-
Quires that candidates for the ap-
pointment be examined in June,
1907, and all I want is a chance to
stand the examination Then he
rejoined, 81 know that's the law, out
the custom is for the Congressman
just to appoint men to West Eoint
and Annapolis, and several have al
ready applied so there is no chance
for you" My destiny was sealed, so
far as West Point was concerned, and
L turned away from the Farmer
Congressman, as he would have
himself called, with the sad realiza-
ton of blasted hope.
Naturally, l watched for his ap-
pointments, and did you know that
both of them were given to boys that,
in my knowledge, never struck lick
on the farm, and, more than that,
not single farmer boy from the 7th
Congressional district had even the
shadow of a chance to get either Of
these appointments, unless his father
or uncle had lot of money or 'fat"
influence. | know what I'm talking
about. After my failure at Ringgold
[ was so DESTROYS of an appointment
that | wrote Mr.. Lee, asking him to
use his influence with the President
(for, as you know, he has the privi-
lege of making several appoint
ments), and Mr.. Lee didn't even an
swer my letter. Why didn't he?
Simply because 7 was nothing hit q