Sequachee Valley news. (Sequachee [Sequatchie], Tenn.) 1896-1952, 1914-10-08
ADVANTAGES OF
lNDEPENDANTISM

peCldlly W eoO AuNAAASN 'SSSAo Va Ouc
County:
l desire to call your attention to the
fact that am in the race for Repre-
sentative as an independent candidate.
l have always been an Independent in
politics, voting for men and issues.
looking first to the righteousness of
issues involved, then to the qualifica-
tions and honesty Of the candidate,
as we'll as his ability to do the work
needed. 1t is one thing to want Office.
another thing to get the Office, bat the
most important thing to the people is
the right kind Of legislation. 1t is too
often the case that we elect men to
Office because they just want the Office
for the donors that may attach thereto
or for their own selfish purpose as
we'll as self ACCOMPLISHMENT. Most Of
ten men are elected through illegal
and foul means and sometimes by an
unhealthy rivalry between the two or
more contesting factions, unduly agi-
tating and indaming the minds of the
people to such degree that they new
or look beyond the polls, thinking only
of winning the race for their candi-
date.
NV position in this campaign is
most peculiar. Having been born in
the county and having lived most of
nv life in the county feel especially
interested in our county affairs as
we'll as the affairs of our state and ma
ton. Reared by widowed mother,
having never known the support and
guiding influence of father l learn
ed at an early age to think for myself.
Therefore in early life began the
study OF political history and under
took to decide for myself as to which
party was right and which one was
wrong with view to allying myself
with the one that was right. The re-
suit is very obvious to the more ma
ture mind, of course. My people were
divided politically, good friends and
honest men on either side served to
perplex the immature mind, but con-
tinued to study the question from an
unbiased and unprejudiced patriotic
view, finally arriving at the conclus.
ion that the one party W as not wholly
right TO the exclusion of the other, but
that they were both right on some
things and both wrong on other
things found that the policies of
the two old parties had changed-that
is to say, they have snapped issues
way back in ante bellum days and
again more recently. This being an
historical fact, why not be independ
emit il one wants to be. One thing
sure, the real independent has some
that pledged party man
cannot enjoy. He has no strings tied
to him, he is free and untrammeled
and can consistently represent all the
people alike. The greatest good to
the greatest number, square deal to
all, first. last and all the time, and
then lay down at night and sleep
sweetly with no remorse of con-
science, but like an innocent child.
l would respectfully ask the voters
IF Marion county who have not al
ready done so, not to pledge them.
selves too soon, but to wait until you
20 to the polls to vote-this is right,
md should as a rule, be adhered to by
Ill, for you never know what may
ranspire during the campaign that |
night cause you to want to be un-
pledged. My mother taught me the |
3criptural lesson that, "In the midst |
Il council there is safety" and there,
desire the council and the support Of |
II the good people of the county ire
pective Of party politics, and IL elect
d, to the responsible position, shall
ever betray the trust imposed. but
vill continue to consult the represen-
alive citizens Of my county as to the
cal needs Of the people Of the county
nd state at large.
We want to be merciful rs we'll as
owerful. II the results of the cleo
lOh uCAC6ntO W AuO uuO PO"OA
D make laws for the people of the
ounty and state we will do so with
umble thankfulness, yet with the
of q lion when occasion re-
uires it. You will find me at the
lace of duty ready, willing and wait
lg for the opportunity to do the nee
ssary work for the people that have
cen so long and so shamef ully neg
,cted. Place. power and preference
, political procedure, has gone to
1e limit. We should call halt, and
here is no more opportune time than
ow, the present campaign, to correct
10 evils that exist. and that are con-
uually perpetrated upon the unsus-
Getting public. Surely we are drift
,g into slavery. serfdom and into
ar through the political Influences Of
,e political bosses yet the humble vo-
n continues to swallow down the
eadly draught from time to time and
'me fol the sake of the dollar will
erjure themselves at the ballot box
nd thereby sink themselves and the
'ttimes righteous minority deeper