The comet. (Johnson City, Tenn.) 1884-1916, 1911-03-09
THE UNKINDEST
CUT OF ALL

CUT OF ALL
J. w. Howard, of Greeneville, has
just had an experience rather unique,
rejecting the ficlxleness of mems prom
ises and the decadence of ethics. AS
the great bard of Avon said on one oc-
casion, "Men deal unsdyisedly some
times, which after hours gives leisure
to repent.n Those who are familiar
with political conditions well remem-
Der and know that Mr.. Howard and
Mr.. Thompson, of Greene county,
along with DR.. Massey and a large
and strong element of the old Brown
low guard furnished the force that
m lde Mr.. Sells congressional posi-
b.lity. They claim that Mr.. Sells pos
lively promised Mr.. Howard and Mr..
Thompson in conjunction with DR..
Massey that Howard should be reap
pointed as postmaster at Greeneville.
Mr.. Howard took thirty days Off and
n ut only materially aided in forming
a compact organization for the nomi-
nltion and election of both
Sells and Massey, but he took the
st imp and made tour of high class
speeches covering number of counties
He is an effective speaker, at the top
OF the list among the Odd Fellosw, and
man of prominence and force But
verify, he has reaped his reward. In
the hour of success at the hands of DR..
Massey, after the president of the unit
ed States had sent his name to the sem
ate, Mr.. Sells made savage attack
upon him, and under cover of q repre-
sentation that Howard had accepted a
position under Governor Hooper, . had
the name Of Howard withdrawn too
late for reconsideration, and too late
for second pull, and thus went down
his hopes of succeeding himself as
postmaster at Greeneville, Tenn. 1t
was an unkind cut to play the game
the way it was played, in view of the
fact that the nomination by the presi-
dent of Howard had been over charges
preferred against him of serious ma
ture, and was, therefore in reality
vindication.
And speaking of Mr.. Howard in con-
nection with job under Governor
Hooper, that is, in connection with
the position of warden at Brushy
Mountain, it is is passing strange why
or how Governor Hooper happened to
"butt" into the game, just how, if he
and Howard were on such terms as
would be supposed by his decision to
appoint Howard warden at Brushy
Mountain, that the correspondence be-
tween Hooper and Howard turned up
in the hands of the mortal enemy of
Howard, in the very matter wherein
Howard's character and standing both
as an official and a man were being
attacked. And what explanation will
be made OF the governor sending tel
egram to the president of the United
States, confirming the appointment of
Howard as warden, when the very
purpose was to defeat him as postmas
Ter, and ofcourse prevent Howard then
from accepting the very place the gov
ernor says he had appointed him to-
1t ta<esno stretch of the imagination
to foresec that if Howard desires to re-
tain his self respect, he cannot now ac-
cept a job under the very man who
joined his mortal enemy when the
fight was vindication from charges
affecting his manhood and his official
integrity 1t is hard to believe that
the governor of the state has turned
the confidential and private files of
his Office into an annex or asset for To-
cal political scramblcs, to boost a To-
cal politician in game of besmirch-
ment II is believed that within few
days there will be developments of
most startling nature. What appears
on the surface staggers belief, and has
put number of people to wondering
who the governor is, and whether it is
really statewide affair, or local
vest pocket matter quite portable and
transportable. The Office of governor
is large office, and man to properly
fill it must keep in the middle of the
road. We do not commit ourselves
jlst now as the size of the president,
who changed his mind four different T
times with resereneo to this appoint.
ment, and under circumstances sug- $
Oestinp that he had promises out at