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

demagogic statement, no part of which
is true, and made only for the purpose
of catching the farmer vote.
Harmon says that congress enact
ed a free sugar tariff law which de-
strOyed the mule market in East Ten
nessee. This is an amazing statement
for two reasons: First, because this
section sells no mules in Louisiana,
the only cane sugar state in the Union,
and, second, because there has never
been a day since Sells was in congress
when we had free sugar. Any effort
which Harmon makes to prejudice the
farmers against Sells will come to
naught. He was raised on a farm,
worked on farm, and his ancestors
back to the early days of the Republic
have been farmers. And he has never
ATTEMPTED for his own political prefer
minority member and the records Of
ment to farm the farmers" His first
speech in congress was in the interest
of the farmer, and an analysis of his
votes on every bill for the benefit of
the farmers will show him their friend.
Mr.. Sells's Prohibition Record
Sells introduced the first bill to
prohibit the manufacture of whiskey
and beer during the war. He wrote to
every AntiSaloon League organiza-
tion in the United Staes, stating that
the time was ripe for such legisla-
ton, and that the friends of prohi-
bition should become active, and bring
pressure to bear on congress for the
enactment of such legislation. His let
tiers met with ready response and
within a few weeks law was en-
acted by congress absolutely prohibit
ing the manufacture of liquor, and
empowering the President to prevent
the manufacture of beer and wine
when in his judgment it seemed ad-
visable.
Exposure of Army Methods
l desire to call attention to another
act of Sells which the people have
not forgotten, and which brought him
the congratulations of men and wo-
men throughout the country. / refer
to his exposure of the methods en-
ployed at some of our army camps in
preparing the bodies of soldiers for
burial. Contracts had been let to
undertaking companies to embalm and
prepare for interment the bodies of
all soldiers who died at out military
camps. Carbon A. Keck of Claiborne
county who had been drafted into the
service died at Camp Jackson, Column
bia, S. G. His body was returned to
his parents, horribly mutilated by an
autopsy, and in an absolutely nude and
otherwise neglected condition. Suisse
quent developments have shown that
this practice was widespread. Sells
took up this matter, compelled an
investigation with the result that the
contract of the Columbian Undertake
ing Company was annulled, and the
army officers who were guilty of this
misconduct were dishonably dismissed
from the service The practice of per-
forming autopsies on the bodies of
our soldiers was discontinued, and il
Sells had done nothing else his work
in this instance would entitle him to
the commentator and support of the
people.
While have not fully presented the
case, for fear Of making this article
too long, trust that l have refuted
majority of the criticisms which have
been unjustly directed against him.
Sells, unlike some others, has en-
ployed no press agents to fill the
columns of the newspapers with his
praise. He has been content to serve
his people with fidelity, without self
advertisement, and as / believe, with
perfect satisfaction to the overwhelm-
ing majority Of his party. That he
will again be nominated and elected, |
have no doubt This defense is writ
ten, not because he needs it, but as
a protest against a system of cam
palgnlng which is unfair, unwarrant-
ed and unjust.
Respectfully submitted,
CLYDE RESER