The comet. (Johnson City, Tenn.) 1884-1916, 1912-10-17

appreciate the weight such articles
owe to the name that is signed to
them. Some incorporate Massey fell
low with waggish proclivities, in reply
to this suggestion, asserted that the
point made was fully appreciated by
the pro-Sells copy-contributors, hence
their failure to sign their names to
their contributions. Another Massey
man suggested that 4 Sells press agent
with a penchant for non de plumes be-
ginning with ~" was the authtr of
all the copy. This is merely giveh to
show the way the minds of some pto-
pie are working, 1t must he said,
however, in fairness to Sells, that the
above indictments are only of genG-
al and frivolous nature and demand
no answer from him.
A party practice of political op-
ponents is that of publicly attacking
the others record. Sells and Massey
have no exception TO this. Sells took
the initiative by charging in his speech
at RogersviIe that Massey is allied
with the whiskey people, and that his
pie record was unexcelled he having
succeeded in comfortably seating not
only himself but his wife and daugh-
ter as well at the federal pie counter.
The first charge made by Sells against
Massey, viz, that the latter is allied
with the whiskey people, il establish
ed To the full satisfaction OF the good
people of the first congressional dis
,rict would seriously effect his chance
Of election. However, a non partisan
grand jury could not be found whi2h
would find true bill against Massey
on the evidence set forth by Sells in
support of the charge. The opinion
is being freely expressed by mary
whose knowledge IF the political al
fairs of the first district dates back to
Sells entry into the political erena,
that any evidence Tending to show
that Massey has co-operated with the
liuuor interests in the past will lAcid-
entally convict Sells of being an "cces
sorry after the fact IN as much a. he
formerly announced to the people o.
the district that he had investigated
Mas-ey's record in The legislature,
.ound it q. X, aud urged the people
TO vote for hlm. This AL happened
while Sells and Massey were neif poi.
itical bed fellows.
TIE second charge made ny fo'i.s
az lust Massey, that referring g. ms
pie record, does not appear upon All
A ysis, to be as serious as Sells wru'd
have it appear. There seems De -
ground for attempting TO Tetdle l@'
charge as made, bat what does i!
prove? 1t simply establishes Il 'iI'i'
record of personal achievements FIR
Massey, 4, Is tangible proof tha. he
got " hat lie wenl after. III Is o''it
opical to assume that he Is 40" Ills
led with what he has doi.e for ann
;elf and his family and ~GuIt b., il
elected, free to direct his energies To- .
ward lettering the conditions OF "'h&iS
If his constituents. IT is not serious
charge to say that a man is for him
elf and his own before he is Tor The
,ther fellow. We are all 50 constitu-
ed whether we admit il or not. Sells
hould have feared that such charges
re impotent from his experienc" with
hem against Browniow. !
Sells c,ajmeS TO be the regular toni T.
lee of the republican party FIR con-
ress. To this claim there seems to be
either head nor tail unless it be adj
nitted that the people of the first con-
ressional district have delegated their
uthority in such matters to the cred
ntials committee of the National Re
ublican Convention? The claims of
ne candidate, as to regularity, seem
} be about as good a those OF the
Their, everything considered. In this
it is deplorable in the es-
mation of every conscientious voter,
hat the political waters have been so
lackened by the cutie fish tactics Of
ne opposing candidates that not only {
II promised or expected issues but /
ven personalities have been SO obscur- {
! as to utterly confuse the voters. Ii {
inconceivabIe, however, that any |
ian with a full sense of the response {
ility of fradchise, will not first put q
imself to the trouble of some indep- e
ldent investigation before casting his /