The Newport plain talk. (Newport, Tenn.) 1909-1939, 1912-07-25
MCCLELLAN ON
7. R. PRESTON
The Tenth District Congressman
Makes Eloquent Plea for Nom
ination of Chattanoogan.

Jackson, Tenn, July 20.-Congress-
man X. d. McKellar, of the Tenth dis
trict, spoke here last night in behalf of
the candidacy of T. h. Preston, of
Chattanooga, for the democrats guber-
material nomination. Mr.. McKellar
was heard by large audience, and his
address was interesting and effective.
He set forth many capabilities of Mr..
Preston for the governorship. and ex-
planned the back tax system, against
the continuance of which Mr.. Preston
is making an aggressive fight. After
pledging himself to support the demo
cratic nominee for governor, whoever
hemay be,and making complimentary
references TO Gov. McMillin, Mr.. Crab
tree, MIR. Tyne, Gen. Faulkner and NJ.
Preston, the five candidates for the
nomination, Mr.. McKellar said in
part.
"There are several reasons why | dc
sire to discuss with you reasons that
have influenced me i'll making acholce
between these five candidates, and
when he is nominated and electe Twill
make an ideal governor OF our great
state.
Inthe first place, in my judgement,
the nomination of Mr.. Preston means
certain election. He is and always has
been actively interested in the fortunes
of the party. He has not allied Linn
self with any faction of democrats in
the state. He belongs to no ring. He
wears no mans collar. He thinks for
himself. He has an individuality that
is admirable. He is not waging fac
tional fight. He has no friends to re-
ward, and no enemies TO punish. His
idea is to bring peace and success to
the party. He can not be distasteful
to the regular democrats because he
has always been a regular democrats.
He is not distasteful TO independent
democrats because he has been fair to-
wards them under all circumst iuces.
81 am earnestly for him because |
believe he represents more particularly
than any of the other candidates my
position or what L consider the lead
ing question in the state at this time
the question OF taxation. Ihave studi-
ed the question of taxation for num-
ber of years. In the practice of my
profession at Memphis l have had to
study it. l believe am familiar with
the injustice and inequality of that
system. | am unalterabIy opposed 40
the present antiquated system of gen.
eral taxation in our state. In the
next place, | am Inalterably opposed
to the present Infamous system Ct
back taxation in our state. In thus
declaring myself l want to refer in the
very outset TO the argument | under
stand the back tax oligarchy in this
state is resorting to 10 prevent the
change in our taxation laws. They are
going into the country counties in the
state saying that the reason we want
the back tax system changed is because
we want to tax the country counties of
the state and lessen the burdens on the
counties where the great cities are Sit
uated. want TO say here and now
that the argument is not only falla-
cious, but it is untrue, and under no
circumstances would ever give my
consent TO the addition of single adj
ditional burden upon the county coun-
ties and the country people ofthe state
of Tennessee, and | would give my
Continued on Page p