The Columbia herald. [volume] (Columbia, Tenn.) 18??-1935, 1910-01-28

Judge f. d. Looney this morning
gave out a caustic reply to the recent
statement of Judge W. o. Gordon. In
his reply Judge Looney denies that he
paid his back poll taxes here with the
intent to establish his residence and
says that such a charge is an insult to
his intelligence. slanderous and I'M
true. He denies that he ever held
office in Mississippi, or that he ever
expressed any intention OF doing So
Judge Looney vigorously attacks the
record of his competitor as the Coun'
ty Judge of this county and strenu'
ously denies Judge Gordon's statement
that the duties of the office as purely
ministerial" He makes several inter
esting charges, alleging that Judge
Gordon has illegally paid veniremen;
that he has paid jail fees and had
other expenses incurred that were
without warrant in law.
The statement of Judge Looney in
full is as follows:
In reply to Judge Gordons article in
a recent issue, | desire to say that l
have nothing TO conceal from the peo-
pie of Maury county relative to my
stay in Mississippi. | made full and
complete statement of the facts to the
gentlemen who gave me their legal
opinion as to my eligibility. want
to state very positively that | never
did anything during my stay there
with a view of identifying myself as
citizen of that state. ! can produce
abundant and conclusive proof, both
here and in Mississippi to establish
the fact that ] made the declaration
unreseryedly and repeatedly that |
had no intention of changing my cltl-
zenship from Maury county. The
charge that | held office there is with
ont foundation. An "ignis fatuus"
Matched up by Judge Gordon, upon IT.
responsible rumor that he has eXag-
gerated and added to, with forlorn
hope that he might by some chance
shot hit upon one truth.
The facts are these: secured
public school on my place there, on
condition that | erect a school house
without cost to the county. | gave the
lot. furnished the material to bulld
same and furnished the desks, etc,
almost at my own expense. | secured
a teacher and looked after the school
for four years There was never any
election for Commissioner, as the law
directs during that time. And II l
held the office | did so upon my own
appointment, supposing ! was acting
as a public benefactor for the neigh
boring children, and securing scnool
for my own. ] don't think | did any
more than any inhabitant would have
had a right to have done in the prem
ises. AS to the Office of Road Com
missioner, | never held any such ONCE
at any time in my life. never quail
fed as legal voter in the State OF
Mississippi. Never at any time regis
tered there as the law requires. New
or voted or attempted to vote in any
general election | did, however, vote
there in a primary election, and SO
stated this to one of my opponents
after | had entered this race And !
believe most any well organized demo
crat might have done so, had they
been placed in similar position.
MY citizenship and residency was
passed upon in open court IN Missis
sinni and the court held ! was not
resident Of that State and relieved me
OF Jury service on that account.
Judge Gordon admits in his articie
that this Is a political move when ne
states that "he will support any OF MS
ornaments if nominated" and to some
gentlemen privately when he said II
Looney got votes enough he dooney
would hold the Office" ] did not at-
tach any political significance at the
time in paying my poll tax back TOT
three wears. In my numerous trips TO
Tennessee I had neglected to pay this
tax at various times | thought OF IT,
and intended to pay It. I can't state
that voted here in any general cleo
ton. I think did so In 19O4' out can
end no record of It. know ] voted IN
several primaries. paid this tax BE-
Zorro the ouestion Of my eligibility was
raised. and the statement that l paid
II for the purpose OF establishins THIS
fact is an insult to my intelligence
slanderous and absolutely untrue.