The Knoxville independent. [volume] (Knoxville, Tenn.) 1894-current, 1918-07-13
Maynardville, July 6, 1915

Union county, and at Luttrell, In said
county, Congressman Austin spoke in
the interest of his candidacy for re-
nomination for Congress, on Saturday,
July 9Th, to large and enthusiastic au-
diences. In his speech Mr. Austin re-
| viewed at length the causes which in
volved the nations in war with Ger
many. His statement Of the many out
RACES perpetrated against this country
by Germany was powerful arraign-
ment of the kaiser and his efforts to
conquer the world. After showing that
war was inevitable, and that this ma
ton was forced into the conflict in
defense of its rights and to prevent
the enslavement of the American peo-
pie, Mr.. Martin stated that he had
voted in favor of the declaration of
war, and demanded to know how his
opponent would have voted if he had
been member of Congress. Mr. Tay-
lor, although he had been invited to be
present and make the speaking joint
discussion, failed to appear. Mr.. Aus
| tin then stated that he had supported
every measure for the successful pros
ecution of the war, and charged that
his opponent, J. Will Taylor, had gone
! to the county officials of Anderson
county and stated to them that he was
| going to make his race against Austin
because of Austin's support of the war,
and because of his vote in favor Of the
| Selective Service Act, which compels
the son of millionaire to fight along
side of the poor man in defense of his
country.
! The Congressman also further
charged that Taylor had stated to a
prominent business man at Norris
town, in Hamblen County, that he ex-
pected to make Austins support Of the
war an issue in this campaign. The
! speaker showed that the Selective
Service Act was endorsed by EXPIRES
ident Taft, and by exsPresident Theo-
dore Roosevelt, by the General Staff Of
the United States Army, by the Secre-
tary of War, and by the Secretary Of
the Navy, and that it was overwhelm-
ingly supported by the entire American
Congress. He then demanded to know
what Mr.. Taylor would have done If he
had been a member of Congress, and
charged that, from the character of
campaign being waged by Taylor,
he would have voted with Senator La
Toilette, the l. w. WIS, and anarchists
and Germans of the country. Austin
then charged that Taylor himself was
a Stacker; that he was of military age,
and had been captain of company of
militia at LaFollette, and that since
the declaration of war had raised an
other company of State Guards at La
Toilette; but that after he had induced
the LaFollette boys to join this COM
pany deserted them and refused to
serve as their captain because Cover
nor Rye would not make him major.
He further charged that Taylor had
written to him (Austin) asking to be
made colonel in the United States
Army, and then made 1t clear to his
audience, who heartily agreed with
him, that this is not war of political
colonies, and that when the lives of
American soldiers are committed to
the care of commanding officer, that
commanding officer must be trained
and skilled in the art of modern war
fare. He then took Taylor severely
to task for having stated that his
(Taylor's) patriotism was equal to
that of any man in the country, and |
demanded of his hearers to know |
whether or not they considered Tay- |
lors conduct in deserving his company |
at LaFollette and in refusing to serve |
his country, was equal to that Of the |
thousands of brave American soldiers |
and sailors who were taking their lives |
in their hands in defense of their
country, and charged that Taylor's
statement, that his patriotism was
equal to that of the soldiers of the
was an insult to every soldier
and every sailor in the service of the
flag, and was an insult to the fathers
and mothers and brothers Of the men
who had been brave enough to go out
in defense of their country. Austin
then asked who his hearers thought
the kaiser of Germany would support
in this contest, stating that he had no
doubt but that the kaiser was against
him; that he had voted and acted in
every instance for his country against
Germany; that he had given his only
boy to the service of his country, and
that his boy today was upon the high
seas guarding American soldiers on
their way to France, and said that he
knew If the kaiser of Germany could
make a contribution in this Congress
sional campaign he would make the
to the campaign to Mr..
Taylor The speaker then completely
Mr.. Taylor's oftrepeated
charge about the Conner and Hudi-
burg collection made on behalf of the
Republican National Congressional |
Committee in the campaign of 1916.
Mr.. Austin conclusively showed that
the man who had preceded him as