The Greeneville daily sun. (Greeneville, Tenn.) 1918-1920, 1918-07-27

10 more important 70 the happiness
and material welfare of the rural
sections of the state. We must. how
ever, recognize the fact that only our
imperative needs can be provided for
until peace is restored. In their MAIN
tenance, IN the meantime, it Is our
duty to make the best possible usa
of all our available means. The funds
raised for this purpose should he
wisely and promptly applied. There
has been too much delay in some in.
stances in making needed improve
ments, especially with the automo-
bile fund, fully approve the ac-
ton OF the last legislature in the pas.
sage Of the Act providing for the
building OF roads in all counties Of
the state by means of the combined
federal and state funds. This statute
should be improved as experience
may suggest,
Workmen's Compensation Law.
1t is settled principle of modern
legislation that injuries sustained H.
employees in hazardous employments
should be considered part Of the
cost Of operation, without the tedi-
Gus and often disastrous DELAYS Incl.
dent to court procedure. Such a re-
suit is obtained by workmen's COM
pensatlon statutes now in force n
thlrty-slx states and territories. which
abolish, as between EMPLOYER and en-
ployee, the antiquated legal princi-
pies of the fellow servant rule. A.
sumption of the risk, and contribm-
tory negligence. / favor the enact
ment of such statute in Tennessee.
and from an analysis of some Of these
acts am of opinion that a law based
on the federal workmen's compensa-
tlon statute would be best adapted 10
the industrial conditions in Tennes.
see.
Law Enforcement
With respect to my attitude toward
existing temperance and law enforce
ment statutes, l desire to state with
emphasis that have consistently fa-
Vored these measures. / favor them
now, and if elected, will enforce
them whole-heartedly, as one who sin
cerely believes in their wisdom and
virtue. So far as statutory enact
ment is concerned, the temperance
question is settled in Tennessee, and
VIII and should be settled in the ma
ton by the prompt ratification by the
state legislatures Of the prohibition
amendment recently proposed by the
Congress, 1t should not be reopened
or again agitated, and will not be If
the people see to it that men in full
sympathy with these laws are elected
to enforce them. But no man should
deceive himself into the belief that
a mere statute is self-executing. or
that question of. this character il
hnally settled as soon as the act is
approved by the governor. Nothing
is further from the truth. No law
enforces itself; its value as law must
be measured by the manner Of its en-
torcement, by the sincerity, the cour-
age and the intelligence Of those who
are charged with the duty of its ex-
ecution. With me this is not a mere
pretensiOn; it is a deep and abiding
conviction. Indeed, great though the
honor is, / would NOT seek it if / had
to call upon the people to trust me
to do as an official that which my
Judgment and conscience did not an
prove. | honestly ana sincerely be-
lleve that the settlement of these
questions should be accepted as final
and that this settlement should be
carried into execution by officials in
thorough accord with the result Of
their settlement rather than by ex-
ecutive paralysis or hostility, have
this apple of discord thrown back into
The politics of Tennessee to create
further confusion, and would use all
the power of the office to compel the
due observance of law, thus prevent
ing the reopening of this issue. But
it should be plainly stated that no
law should be made a political foot
ball, and none should be executed in
any other spirit than in justice and
in mercy.
Governor Has Power.
The governor now has the power,
if he has the will, to secure the en-
forcement of the law in every part of
the state. Any doctrine which would
make the question of law enforce
ment dependent on the activity or
Dassivity of mere subordinate officials
is pernicious and would obtain no
recognition from me. / stand for the
thorough and honest enforcement Of
every law upon the statute books en-
forced for the protection Of society
from the lawless elements acting
singly or in concert, and if existing
agencies prove insufficient or inef-
fective, | would favor such additional
means as the nature of the case might
require.
There are other matters of more
or less moment to the state and to
the people to which / might refer,
but ! shall refrain. Some of them
are fraught with great consequence
to US and must be settled at no dis
tant date, but / believe that, with
the minds and hearts of our people
centered on the issues of the war,
and about $4,000 of our young men
already absent in the military SER
vice of the nation, it is just to them
and to ourselves to postpone settle
ment of all important matters, ex-
cept our most pressing needs, to such
time as may be opportune and con-
venient for full consideration by all
those to be affected.
Party Organization.
] have always been a consistent
believer in democratic party organi-
cation. am not narrow partisan
or factionalist, but believe in ac-
cepting the truth from whatever
source it may come. Back of and
behind the democratic organization
stand the ideals of government in
which sincerely believe, and / have,
therefore, never voted for or support
ed in any way a republican for any
pounfv cfofa ar national oHfca Mr.