The comet. (Johnson City, Tenn.) 1884-1916, 1911-03-09
BROWNLOW AND MASSEY

BROWNLOW AND MASSEY
Colonel John B. Brownlow in yes
terdays issue of the Knoxville Jour.
nal md Tribune took a throw at DR..
Massey over the result of the election
of manager to succeed the late Colo
mel Walter P. Brownlow. The open
letter carries with it considerable evil
dence of haste and angry criticism to-
gether with charge of bad faith. 1t
is not the purpose of The Comet to en-
ter into any matter of personal ami
mostly between individuals, but it is
a matter of interest and approval to
know that some Tennessean was Sc
leeted as manager instead of a man
from Michigan, no matter how clever,
deserving and genial gentleman he
Natioual Soldiers Home, located here
in our midst is essentially a southern
institution, and we were heartily in
favor of the selection of southern
man for its local manager. DR.. Mas
sey is man of considerable ability, an
honorable war record as an assistant
surgeon, and with his knowledge of
public affairs, army service, and espe-
pecially his professional education as
a physician and surgeon, he ought to
be well equipped to render satisfactory
service to home filled with men who
mostly need medical attention.
The open letter above referred to al
so mentions that DR.. Massey express
ed an intention to become a candidate
against Mr.. Sells for congress two.
years hence. This is free country,
and every man of lawful age has that
right nnder the constitution and laws.
So far as yet announced as yet an
nounced Mr. Sells is not candidate to
succeed himself, and he has a right
not to be if he so desires. 1.-The desires
to run agasn, he has that right, but it
is not right peculiar to himself, but
open alike to all men. 1t is no crime
to make a race against Mr.. Sells, or if
he does not decide to run again, to
make it against DR.. Massey. The Of
flee of member of congress belongs to
the people and not to any individual,
set of men, clan or clique. 1t is true
that there has been a question raised
for some years to the effect that no
of congress ought to be man.
ager at soldiers home, but it is not
advisable here to enter into a discus
sion of the merits of that question.
Suffice it to say that several gentle
men of high standing and ability have
been mentioned in connection with the
republican nomination for congress,
and no one man has any mortgage on
the situation. In addition to DR.. Mas
sey and Mr.. Sells, the name of Judge
G. MoHenderson has been mentioned
quite frequently. Our townsman,
Maj. Paul L. Divine, is also mention
ed in that list, as we'll as Judge Camp
bell, Judge Harmon and Chancellor
Haynes. 1t is a matter of pride even to
a democrat that there are many men
IN the republican party big enough to
hofd down seat in congress and to
reflect credit upon their constituency.
In the list above mentioned, and this
IS by no means exhaustive, there are
men who could stand on the floor of
and measure lances with the
best along the line of debate upon
question of political economy and con-
structive statecraft. They are men
who have delyed deep into the wells
,f philosophy, men of research and
study, men who could analyze a con-
,titutional question with clearness and
precision.
And right whrle We are talking on
his subject, it is high time that MEM
oers Of congress should be selected be-
,aase of 1heir b;Aty along legislative
ines, a'ong constructive lines of dem
&c attic government, and not because
his man hat man may have pull
With some Sc saeking politician in