The Newport plain talk. (Newport, Tenn.) 1909-1939, 1912-12-12

citizenship who had never let The "al-
mighty" dollar keep him from express
hing his opinion OH any and al subjects;
one man who had shown that he was
ever ready to speak forth and stand for
what lie considered the right, regard.
less of the consequence, regardless Of
the busincssit might lose him. Mr..
Smith was defeated according to the
votes placed in the ballot box, but in
defeat he has clear conscience, while
on the other hand many church pill
ar is or should be bent with remorse.
Newport gives more heed to muni-
cipal election than is neces-
sary. Ever" two years the town is
torn asunder by political battle.
Friends of the day before pass each
ether on the street without recogni-
tion during these campaigns, but the
battle just closed will go down in his
tory as the most bitter in all time. 1t
was not battle in which blood was
shed, but it was battle where small
number of the towns citizens gathered
together ana bound themselves for q
fight against the money interest of
the town, fight in which the welfare
Of the people, alone was at stake. A
certain clique had for years held the
control of the towns affairs in the
hollow of it's hand. While in control
the town had spent many thousands
of dollars, the taxes had increased
rapidly, but the benefits did not COM
pare with the expenditure. Public
opinion was making itself felt There
was frequent murmur that the
town had not received face value for
$4,000 spent for water and sewer
system. Under cover there was a hint
that all was not well and while no
direct accusations were made the word
graft frequently cropped up in these
whisperings. twas generally known
that George Smith had taken more
interest in the tswn than any one else,
and while he was reluctant to do so,
he was drawn into the race again by
several of the towns citizens who had
stated that they would make the race
for alderman, if he would make the
race for maVor
They knew that Mr.. Smith had a
letter from another state in which il
was shown that the same people who
had operated in Newport in planning
the water system were alleged to have
participated in shady deal in that
town and they knew of nc
man in the town who would have the
courage TO look into the matter more
faithfully than Mr.. Smith, SO they
slated him for the dflice of mayor.
The announcement of George Smith
for mayor created havoc in the ranks
of the clique. Immediately they were
terror stricken, and then began the
fight which terminated in the election
Of three of the five aldermen on the
Smith ticket and the defeat Of Mr.
Smith, himself, With great difficulty
the clique finally selected George
Stokely for mayor. He was the one
member of the Old Board who it was
believed would have chance of being
elected in the face Of the -pubiic's dis
approval of the course of the Old Board
during the past two years. Outside
of the fact that he had been negative
factor in the Old Board, that he had
worked hand in hand with those IN
control of the members OF the Ole
Board, there was nothing against Mr.
! Stokely. His personal record was 3
clear one and family presitage was OF
such nature that he was held in the
very highest esteem, and the public
suspicion had in no wise been attract
ed to him in his official capacity.
| Mr.. Smith and the aldermen run
ming with him, knew that they were
working against great odds;they engag
ed j. II. Penlandof knoxvilieto spend
Friday and Saturday here to look
after their interests. The night before
the election, card, ingeniouslv print
ed, the exact size of the official ballots
perforated as was the official ballot
and with holes punched in the mar
gin, opposite the names of George
Stokely, II. p. DriskiIl. Elmer Jones
| Al. McMahan, Flint Ray and Frank
Taylor was unearthed.
i This card, If used, and it probably
was, enabled man TO place the card
over the ballot and his cross would be
'opposite the names oftbe men mention.
ed, If he marked his ballot in the
jpunch as intended. The leaving of
of Houston Fanchers name and the
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