The comet. (Johnson City, Tenn.) 1917-19??, 1918-06-22
der its flag and shared its fortunes
in Sunshine and in shadow.
Rack AsSncSmnnt
Back Assessment

Back Assessment
The present system for back as
sessment of property should be COM
pletely revised. There must always
be method and agency for reaching
that property that escapes its just
assessment, but this power must be
removed from politics. 1t ought to be
exercised by direct and salaried agent
of the State. The position of revenue
agent is now the fayorite birth of the
politician. All have observed that one
or more of them at every session are
members of the general assembly, and
their chief concern is always to pro-
tect themselves in the provisions of
the assessment act. They constitute
political ring, whose activity has
become intolerable. While the law
limits their salary to $4,000 per an
mum, their operations are so conduct
ed that the entire penalty of the back
assessment is CONSUMED in expenses
md special fees to attorneys. The
whole thing is rotten in the root and
rotten in the branch and should be
eXterminated. The appointment of
these agents should be taken from the
comptroller and a system for back
assessment should be devised which
Will permit the exercise of this power
IN straightforward and satisfactory
manner, and which will forever re-
heYe these assessments of all Juggling
and back-handed methods. | know
that this statement will cause the acu-
tie politicians who are holding these
positions to oppose with sinister Wig
or, but l am right about the matter
and that is known to all who are IA
mlllar with the present system
Selfish Politics
have no respect for any selfish in
tluence in the politics of our state
am constantly told that the politicians
are opposing me, and that they are in
vincible in Tennessee. That thew do
oppose me in this contest is true
that is known to everybody. That
VIII defeat me, l do not believe. Mvl
confidence in the judgment and ius-
lice OF the people is strong and alb
lding. If l deserve success the peo-
pie will bestow it, | am content to
submit my candidacy to them. and |
shall take it elsewhere.
Conclusion
tennessee to me is the fairest in
the constellation of American States.
No country so rare was ever fashion,
ed by the hand of God. Her hills and
mountains are rich, in wealth and
beauty. Her plains and valleys are
yerdant and fertile as heart could
wish Her rivers and streams are
deep and limpid and cut the landscape
like moving threads of silver and
gold. 1t is the land where men and
women are born to heroic lives. Their
blood is red and strong and stirs to
virile deeds. 1t has animated her
sons to knighthood on many fields
where courage is shown. Often it
thrilled and moved by accents of lof-
ty patriotism in the legislative and
council chambers of the Nation. Who
can forget the share that our state
has had in the development of this
republic? No other commonwealth.
unless Virginia, can compare with
Tennessee in contribution to Ameri-
can history. Truth rivals romance in
the wonderful story of her statehood.
This heritage of the noble paSr is
ours, and a sacred trust in our hands.
We must so administer it that pos
terity will not rebuke us. The loHy
fingers of the morning beckon us to
new endeavors. We are living today
at the apex Of the ages. Social forces
which represent irreconciliable are
struggling in titantic fury for The
final mastery. No issue of such con-
sequence to humanity ever waited the
tides of battle The humane and
Christian world is locked in a grapple
of death with the mailed gian Of au-
tocracy. That civilization that gard
ems the liberty of man is threatened
by nation that would have the world
as its vassal. Those who fight for free
dom can never yield the contest. 1t
was inevitable that our country
which is the first exemplar of self
government among nations, should
join the fight with the forces of DEM
ocracy in this war. The sacrifice is
supreme, but the cause is worthy of
it. Wealth and peace are nothing
when weighted against liberty and de-
mocracy. Our hearts and our prayers
are with our soldiers, and may God
spare their lives. We would the end
of this horrible war, but not patriot
would have it end until a sweeping
victory has punished the monstrous
brutality of the enemy and forever
stifled his autocratic pretensions.
Men may then set about their tasks
of life under their own government
without danger froSl any mailed hand.
Fruitful industry will be resumed
without f1o monaco of Go,.,,,oo I,,c4