The Greeneville daily sun. (Greeneville, Tenn.) 1918-1920, 1918-07-11

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Sells and Harmon. Thus far the only
activity seems to be on the part of
Harmon who has been an aggressive
candidate since November, 1917, and
receptive one for several years.
Sells made a short, succinct state
ment some months ago that he would
be a candidate, and indicated his in
tention to let the matter rest there
for the time being. And the people
generally, without reference to poll
tics, endorsed his attitude believing
that the present is no time for acri-
moniOus partisan discussion.
Harmon published circular letter
on the first day of January, announ-
cling his candidacy, and about the only
thing of interest it contained was the
statement that he would make a de-
cent campaign, eff permitted to do
So" And since that time Sells has
offered no word of comment nor crit
icism, and Harmon has had clear
field, with no obstruction whatever
placed in his way. Nothing has been
said or done to provoke him to change
his announced intention of conducting
"a decent campaign" But those who
have kept in touch with the progress
of his campaign have noted contin-
uing change of policy, and the en-
ployment of invective to attract notice
to his candidacy which, for the most
part, the people have refused to take
seriously, or have ignored. Recently
he has published second edition to
which he has given wide circulation
and which is so unjust and misleading
to one who knows the facts that it
should not be ignored. And while Sells
is amply able to defend himself, and
no doubt will do so at the proper time,
/ feel that in justice to him and the
republicans of the first district, an
answer should be made to this viru-
lent attack.
The majority of these charges have
been made before, and Harmon is
merely "threshing over old straw"
DIR. Massey made them in 1912, and
Gen. Cox in 1914. The most serious
charge is that of absenteeism, and the
conclusion which Harmon seeks to
draw is that Sells has been neglect
ing his official duties. He attempts
a parallel between the records of
Sells and Austin, though just why he
should think First District Republi-
cans are interested in the latter is
not explained. 1t is of course, obvi-
GUS that Austin wants to control the
Republican party in the State, that
Harmon is his candidate to beat Sells,
and that, he realizes his ambition is
hopeless unless he can secure the
support of the Republicans in this dis
trict. If there were any doubt about
the scheme, Harmon's last circular
makes it clear.
People Know Sells Record
Harmon submits, what purports to
be extracts from the Congressional
Record showing the number of roll
calls to which Sells did not respond.
Just how correct this record is nobody
knows, not even Harmon himself. But
the people know more about Sells
record than this garbled statement
from the Record discloses. And this
article is merely to refresh their
memories. They remember perfectly
that he was in Nashville large por-
ton Of his first two terms in Congress
supporting a Republican Governor
who was fighting valiantly for deem
CIV, and the maintenance of our pro-
hihition and election laws, to the en-
actment Of which Sells, as member
of the State Senate in 1909, had large
ly contributed. In supporting Sells
against Massey in 1912, Harmon APP
proved his work for honest elections,
though, as he frankly stated, he
didn't think much of our prohibition
laws" The bulk of Sells absences
were during these four years, though
no doubt he has failed to vote on some
measures of more or less Importance
since. And there have been good and
sufficient reasons,
When Sells entered Congress, no
one realized as he did the difficulty of
the task that confronted him in sue
ceeding Brownlow. Conditions had
changed, the Federal treasury was de-
pleted, and for the first time in six
teen years the Democratic party had
come into control. Congress had en-
acted law authorizing purchase OF
cut-over lands in various sections of
the country, but in the creation Of
areas in which purchases might be
made, the Forest Service had made
no provision for the greater portion
of the mountainous sections of upper
East Tennessee. Sells went to work
Geological Survey which resulted in a
and had an examination made by the
favorable report He then appeared
before the National Forest Commits
sion, and an order was made which
created new areas and authorized
purchases in the majority of the noun
tain counties Of his District. As a
result approximately 10000 acres Of
land from which the timber had been
removed. and which was being con-
Stantly devastated by fire and erosion
have been taken over by the Forest
Service. and for which the people Of
this section have received more than
q half million dollars. / personally
know that he left Washington time
after time, and at his own expense
came here to look after this work.
Many Of the sales were made directly
through his efforts. All kinds OF OBJ
stacles were presented, but he stuck to
il and made it a success, And future
generations viii thank him for his eff
forts. for they principally viii be the
benefactors. Not many fair-minded
people viii feel disposed to criticise
him for missing a few roll calls while
absent from Washington on such a