The states-graphic. (Brownsville, Tenn.) 1???-1984, 1916-10-20
OVERALL BIDDING FOR LAWLESS VOTE
DECLARES GOV. RYE IN SOMERvILLE SPEECH
THE GOVERNOR CALLS ON Willy REPUBLICAN DISPLAY HIS
BoASTED PLAINNEsES AND BLUNTNEss BY TELLING THE
PEOPLE WHERE HE STANDS VIGOROUS ATTACKS BRING
ENTHUSIASTIC APPLAUSE FROM FAYETTE COUNTIANs.

Somerville, Tenn, October 17.-Be-
fore a large and enthusiastic audience
of Fayette countians here today, Gov.
Rye put it squarely up to his republi-
can opponent, John W. Overall, to dis
play his "plainness and bluntness"
and tell the people where he stands
whether he is for decent government
or for lawlessness.
The governor was exceptionally Wig
orous.
"Where does this man stand" prod
ded the governor.
"He tells us that he would not de-
ceive any man to be governor of Ten
nessee. He attempts to make capital
of the fact that he voted for me be-
lieving that l would enforce the laws
of the land. He says | deceived those
people.
"Where does Overall stand? Is it
generally known that Overall stands
on a platform of temperance and law
enforcement? He insists that | was
elected by the voters of the large cit
les. This is silly argument. | am
proud of Tennesseans everywhere, we
are proud of each other, but the rec
ord shows that | was nominated with
out the vote of a single large city. l
was elected without the vote of SIN
gle large city. He says that notwith-
standing I was elected by the vote of
the cities, | turned around and des-
troyed the very people who elected me.
"My friends, / destroyed nobody.
But if trucking to lawlessness and
bad government is his Idea of fulfilling
my promise to enforce law, then |
certainly have disappointed some peo-
pie. And l am glad of it.
ut is an open secret that Overall is
bidding for the vote of the lawless
! I'D those Qpposed to decent govern
fment. Yet he is Oh . platforin cafis
ing for the enforcement of the law.
"Now, | put the question to MIR.
Overall. What would you do, if you
should be elected governor of Tennes-
see and the time should come, as come
it must, when you are to choose be-
tween decency and lawlessness in this
state, what are you going to do?'"
And the audience cheered.
But that wasn't all.
The governor has habit of going
about things in a stinging sort of way
when he goes at it strong. In this cam
paign he has a flowing we'll to draw
from
1t appears that Mr. Overall recent
ly signed an address to the voters of
Tennessee. 1t has never been deliver
ed except to the printer In that al
legged address Mr. Overall undertook
to criticise Gov. Rye for appointing
John S. Denton chairman Of the state
board of control.
"Was it good business" Mr., Overall
goes on to say in his alleged address,
ito appoint as chairman Of the board
of control, a position of almost unlim-
tied power, a man who has not been a
success in his own private business
Was it good business to take for this
position a man who was working in a
small ice cream factory for SIS a
month and put him in such respon-
sible place at a salary Of $4,000 a
year,"
He was referring, of course to Mr.
Denton.
81 had known John Denton long be.
fore | appointed him to this position,
said Governor Rye. II knew him in
Washington. / had before me some Of
the most excellent endorsements ever
written for any man, But it seems
that these endorsements were not all
that were in existence.
Permit me, please, to read you
this"
And the governor read as follows
to-wit:
Nashville, Tenn, May 10, 1910.
"To whom it may Concern
~ understand the Hon. John S
Denton intends to change his place OF
business from Nashville to somewhere
in Texas, and l desire to say to the
people with whom he may hereafter
become engaged in business that he is
a man of the highest standing and his
standing among the business people
Of this city is the very best. In fact
he has been a success in everything
with which he has had to do During
the cary life Of Mr.. Denton he served
as a chief of a division in one Of the
departments at Washington. Then he
was private secretary to Gov. Benton
Mcmillan, and held the responsible po-
sition Of prison commissioner of Ten
nessee. In all Of these positions he
gave the highest degree of satisfac-
tion.
"Of late Mr.. Denton has been vice
president of the Southern Lumber
Manufacturing Company and is in act.