The Knoxville independent. [volume] (Knoxville, Tenn.) 1894-current, 1918-06-15
TO THE REPUBLICANS OF THE
SECOND DISTRICT

take this method of announcing
my candidacy for denomination for
congress in the republican primary
August LIST, 1918. While I assume
that the republicans throughout the
district have understood that /
would be candidate for renomina-
ton in the republican primary,
have deferred in making this formal
announcement because of the recent
patriotic campaigns that have been
engaging the thoughts and attention
OF the American people in the inter-
est of the Third Liberty Loan to
finance the great war and the Red
Cross campaign for funds to aid them
in their mission Of mercy to save the
joldiers and sailors, both at home
and in foreign fields, believing that
it would be unpatriotic to undertake
to engage the attention of the loyal
patriotic republicans of the Second
Congressional district by making an
announcement for denomination and
precipitating a political campaign
when their thoughts and attention
were given over to such patriotic
duties.
The President of the United States
the commander-in-chi of our army
and navy in this great struggle to,
save our country from the domina-
ton of Prussianism, has asked con-
gress to remain in session and CO.
operate with him in winning this
great war. / therefore feel that it is
my patriotic duty to my country and
to the loyal patriotic people Of my
district to remain at my post of duty
serve my country and my people just
as much so as it is the duty Of our
soldiers in arms to serve as. they are
doing patriotically in the trenches
in foreign fields Of war whites the
battles are on.
cannot be a Stacker when entrust-
ed by my people with this responsible
duty and it remains with the good ci-
tizens of the Second Congressional
District of Tennessee to say whether
or not / am right in taking this
stand to remain at my post of duty.
I cannot believe that constituency
made up of such patriots as compose
the Second Congressional District
will fail to stand by and support a
public official who stands by his post
of duty and serves them faithfully.
l am strongly impressed that the
highest duty that any man can dis
charge at this time in the terrible
struggle to save our country, is to do
everything in his power to help and
save our boys who are fighting so
bravely to save this country Of ours.
Next in importance in winning this
great war, to the boys who are gath
ering into our camps for duty and
the soldiers who are fighting in the
trenches, is the congress of the
United States. Our boys cannot win
it without their assistance-our COM
mander-in-chief has no power ex-
cept those given him by the congress
Of the United States so / reiterate
that I could not be true to my oath
of Office, to my country nor to the
people Of my district unless / remain
at my post in serving you.
However, if the house of repre-
sentatives should take brief recess
after discharging the duties entrust-
ed to them and make it possible or
honorable for me to do so between
now and the August primary, it will
give me pleasure to come home and
meet my people and so far as time
will permit, go on the stump and
give an account of my congressional
labors during that time / have served
you and what l have done in aiding
legislation in the interest of our boys
on the firing line.
/ put my trust in the loyal, just
and patriotic people of the district.
They will wisely decide the question, /
whether it be in, the interest of their
: loved ones in the Army and Navy and
the interest of the nation, during
these serious days, to turn out of
Congress man who has been on
guard day and night; who has sup
ported every war measure; who is
familiar with war activities; with ten
years of legislative training; the
friendship and good will Of practical
" every Member Of the Lower
House of Congress, and majority
Of the Senate, and substitute man
without a days legislative exper-
fence, without an intimate knowledge
a. the present duties and response
h;l;ties of a Member of Congress,
which are more difficult, trying and
numerous than ever before in the
history Of the republic for man who
has for weeks been travelling over
the district, opposing my support OF
vital Wit necessary military measures,
ths failure of which would have made
he he, winning Of the war impossible 7