The Johnson City comet. (Johnson City, Tenn.) 1916-1917, 1916-10-19
GOV. RYE SPEAKS TO LARGE
ENTHUSIASTIC AUDIENCE

and enthusiastic audience of Fayettt
countains here today, Governor Rye
put it squarely up to his republican
opponent, John w. Overall to display
his "plainness and bluntness" and tel
the people where he stands whether
he is for decent government or fol
lawlessness.
The governor was exceptionally Wig
orous.
Where does this man stand?" prod
ded the governor.
He tells that he would not deceive
any man to be governor Of Tennessee.
He attempts to make capital of the
fact that people voted for me believ-
ing that | would not enforce the laws
Of the land. He says l deceived those
people.
where does Overall stand? 1t is
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 a 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.
was elected without the vote of a sin
gle large city. He says That notwith-
standing | was elected by the cities,
| turned around and destroyed the
very people who elected me.
My friends, | destroyed nobody.
But if trucking to lawlessness and
bad government is his idea of fulfill
ing my promise to enforce law, then
certainly have disappointed some
people. And | am glad Of it.
1t is an open secret that Overall
is bidding for the vote OF the lawless
and those opposed to decent govern
ment. Yet he is on platform call
ing for enforcement of the law.
Now l put the question to Mr.. Ov-
erall: What would you have done? If
you should be elected governor of
Tennessee and the time Should come,
as it must come, when you are to
choose between decency and lawless-
ness in this state, what are you go
ing to do?'"
And the audience cheered.
But that wasn't all.
The governor has Aahit of going
about things its d stsaisfA ~ sort IA prssy
when he goes at it strong. In this
campaign he has a flowing well to
draw from.
1t apepars taht MI. Overall recent
ly signed an address to the voters of
Tennessee. 1t has never been deliv-
cred, except to the printer. In that
alleged address Mr.. Overall undertook
to criticise Gov. Rye for appointing
John S. Denton, 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 un-
limited power, a man who had not
been a success in his own private bus
iness. Was it good business to take
for this position a man who was work
ing in small ice cream factory for
$75 a month and put him in such a
responsible place at salary of $4,-
900 a year?"
He was referring, of couse, to Mr..
Denton.
Il had known John Denton long be-
fore | appointed him to this position, -
said Gov. Rye. Il knew him in Wash
ington. | 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 fololws,
to-wit:
Nashville, Tenn, May 10, 1910.
ITO Whom 1t May Concern:
Il understand the Hon. John S.
Denton intends to change his place of
business from Nashville to somewhere
in Texas, and | desir eto 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 peo-
pie of this city is very good. In fact
he has been a success in everything
with which he has had to do. During
the early life of Mr.. Denton he served
as a Chief of division in one of the
departments at Washington. Then he
was private secretary to Gov. Benton
Mcmillan, and held the responsible
position Of prison commissioner OF
Tennessee. In all of these positions
he gave the highest degree of salts.
faction.
"of late Mr.. Denton has been Vice
President of the Southern Lumber
Manufacturing Company and is in ac.
tive management of the business
This enterprise is one of the largest