The comet. (Johnson City, Tenn.) 1884-1916, 1914-10-29

DcdSlSy lON iiQuOiS puTCHdSSu W -
used in the August election; that h'
(Redmond) had said If he was arraign
ed in court for contempt he proposed
to expose the matter and use the
check as evidence. told the friend
that reported this rumor to me thai
| it sounded very much like an election
canard, but that was not disposed
! to believe it. He assured me, however
that the information had come direct
to him in such way that he believed
it to be true. Redmond was cited for
contempt, along with several other
liquor dealers, on evidence secured by
the Anti-saloon League for violation
of the injunctions.
His case was set for trial at
o'clock, along with the others, some OF
whom did not appear. Other cases
were compromised without trial, some
postponed, Redmond appeared ready
for trial. Mr.. James S. Beasley came
into the courtroom that morning and
had a conference with the attorneys
for the state. Redmond's case was
postponed until o'clock that after
noon. / had protested against some
of the compromises that were being
made and left the courthouse that
morning in disgust. I did not return
to the courthouse in the afternoon,
but 1 understand that when Redmond s
case was called it was reported that
he had forfeited his bond and left the
state. His case was tried in his alb
sence, and, as / remember, he was
given six months sentence for con-
tempt had not said anything to the
attorneys about the rumor with ref
erence to the check said to be held
by Redmond, but two or three days
later l asked one of the attorneys for
the state why Redmond's case was
not tried the morning that he appear
ed for trial. His reply was that they
hoped, by postponing the trial until
the afternoon, to develop some evil
dence that would connect Sol Cohen
with the case. He also said to me
that Redmond claimed to hold a check
for $50 or $35 signed by ]. S. Beas-
ley, for liquors which 1t was claimed
was used in the August election. He
said that Mr.. Beasley had brother,
Dr.. ]. S. Beasley. who was not pro-
hibitionist, and that he had probably
bought the liquors and given his
check.
No Communication From Gov. Hooper.
Gov. Hooper in no way communi-
Gated with me after my disagreement
with the attorneys, but some ten days
afterward stated to DR.. Care that he
was satisfied with their work. l am,
therefore, led to conclude that the at
torneys were following their instruc-
tions.
My desire to have the league de-
clare it's neutrality in the present gu
bernatorial contest was wholly on the
basis of the often repeated declara-
tons of the league as to what its at
titude would be under conditions that
/ insist now prevail, namely. that both
candidates declare for the retention
and enforcement of the anti-liquor
laws. But inasmuch as a partisan fac
ton of the committee have seen fit
to endorse Gov. Hooper as the only
candidate in their judgment that could
be trusted to uphold and enforce the
anti-liluor laws, and at the same time
expressed doubt as to the sincerity of
Gen. Rye's position and his platform,
and that, too, in the face of the fact
that at least some of the committee
have been furnished information as
to the conditions that prevail, l deem
1t necessary and just to at least state
that the prevailing conditions on law
enforcement alone make the action
Of the committee exceedingly unwise
ut was agreed between myself and |
The president of the league that it |
would not be necessary or wise to
discuss the local law enforcement |
situation as a means to influence the
in its action at its meeting /
Sept "a, and now regret the fact that
~ the action of the committee in its
unqualified Endorsement of Gov. Hoop
II it has made it necessary for me to
'efer to what consider a deplorable
tate of affairs in the work of law en-
orcement in Nashville under the nui-
ance law.
Il am thoroughly convinced and
make bold to say, that the recent law
work in Nashville has
lad more politics in it than real law
Increment. Much of the information
f the conditions that prevail had been
iven by me to some of the members
t the committee before it's action on
let. Is. This creates all the more sur
rise to me that they acted as they
i'd. The friends of temperance and
NV enforcement in Tennessee have
light to know the facts with reference
} the law enforcement work that has
cen carried ON through their repre-
entatives. If an investigation is de-
landed, or made, by an impartial and
court of inquiry of all
he work done in Nashville under the