Jackson County sentinel. (Gainesboro, Tenn.) 1914-current, 1918-07-25
1T IS NOT True" SAYS
JUDGE SWIGGART.
Replies TO Charge Made A.
gainst Shields.
(Na 5hville Banner)

Judge w. ii. SWlggart of
Union City, one of the best
known and most respected citi-
zens OF the State of Tennessee,
has written a letter to Thomas
N. Greer, one Of Shields cam
paign managers, in regard to the
attack made by Gov. Rye on SEN
ator Shields and upon John Ver-
non Ecrhine when the Governor
charged Verhlne with being a
Stacker" and Senator Shields
with having aided him to dodge
the draft.
Judge Swiggart's connection
with the case gives him an in
itmacy with the true facts which
makes his statement clearly un-
derstandable and which shows
up the insidiousness of Rye's
method of attack in his race for
the senate. in which he spares
no efforts to destroy the charac-
ter and good name of any person
or persons who may be opposed
to his candidacy.
Judge Swiggart shows that
young Verhine was first drafted
and turned down on account of
physical disability, later being
placed in class / for limited SER
vice. Judge Swiggart says that
it is not true that Vernon Yer
hine is Stacker, nor that he
was unwilling to submit to the
rulings of the military authori-
ties. 1t is not true that any
fight was made by Senator
Shields or myself to have this
man dodge the service of his
country. 1t is not fair or just to
say that in taking this course, he
was a Stacker or a dodger".
Judge Swiggart's letter, which
completely scores a Knockout
against the Rye campaign on
this alleged issue" gives the
entire transaction. 1t shows
how Tennessee's chief executive
has distorted the facts in abusing
a young man serving his nation
to the best of his ability in this
time of crisis. TIE letter clear
ly establishes the falseness and
the slanderous character of Gov.
Rye's charges and reveals in its
real aspect the plane upon which
the governor is waging his cam
paign.
Judge Swiggart's letter is as
follows:
Union City, Tenn, July a.
Hon. Thos. N. Greer. Nashville,
Tenn.
Dear Sir: Being requested by
you to make a statement of what
| may know touching the attack
made on Senator Shields by Gov.
Rye in his speech at Lebanon, as
reported in the Tennessean of
July Is, in connection with the
Vernon Verhine case, and with
out any wish or purpose to be
drawn into the controversy, |
state the following facts;
Young Verhine was reared
here and practically in his faith
er's store, and is of light weight
and small build, and is a good
k-keeper and accountant. In
the first draft last summer he
was rejected on the ground of
underweight and physical unfit
ness. In the last draft he was
put in class one. Having been
advised that he might secure a
position in the navy yards or in
the Emergency Fleet Corpora
ton, in the service of the gov
ernment, and for whith he was
much better fitted than for SER
vice in the field as a soldier, he
went to Washington and was
employed in the Emergency
Fleet Corporation and entered
upon the service in that depart
ment on about March .. 1918.
On March 80 notice was issued
by the local board requiring him
to appear for military duty on
April /, but this notice was not
received by him for several days
though think it came to the
hand of his father in due course.
the question arose as to whether
he was entitled to be placed in
the list of those engaged with
the Emergency Fleet Corporation
and thus his entrainment in
camp be deferred as was pre-
scribed in the selective service
regulation sections l58-155. as
;ssnad hv fha Jnvarumant On