The Columbia herald. [volume] (Columbia, Tenn.) 18??-1935, 1918-07-05
AUSTIN PEAY
FEARLESSLYI
HITS POLITICS
CANDIDATE FOR DEMOCRATIC
NOMINATION FOR GOVERNOR
SPEAKS IN COLUMBIA.
CHALLENGES HIS OPPONENT
Asks Roberts to Take on Political
Robes and Come Out Before the
People for a Discussion Of Live To-
sues in State.

FedTieSsly aSSalllng Tie DO1fd 0f
control, the back tax system, the state
highway department and other fea-
lures OF the state government as hay
ing been made the instruments of pol
iticians, declaring that the MYancos Of
the state have been disastrously man
aged, that he public schools should
receive moro money without IN in
crease in taxes. that tho liquor ques-
ton is settled in Tennessee, but that
when the federal prohibition amend
ment is ratified by the Tennessee gem
eral-assembly, lie will, If governor ut
that time, sign the resolution, Hon.
Austin Peay of GAINESVILLE speaking
Monday before a splendid audience of
Maury countians challenged his judi
cial opponent, Judge A. II. Roberts, N
the race for the Democratic nomina-
ton for governor to throw off his ju-
dicial robes and come out in the open
before the people with an equally
frank statement of his position on the
issues in the state.
Mr.. lPeay was well received by m
audience that practically filled the
large circuit court room. He was in
troduced by Col. T.. II. PEBBLES, aid
after brief discussion of the war AM
the part that Tennessee and America
are playing it it, launched into his up
peal to the voters of Tennessee e
support him because he Is seeking K
| give his services to the state in an eff
fort to re-establish he commonwealth /
business affairs upon a sound basi,
without continuing an increase in tax
alton and debt.
Mr.. Peay will be heard again i
Maury county when he speaks Wei
nesday morning at 10:30 o'clock a
Spring Hill and Tuesday night at Nj
Pleasant e,f
Americas part, In the great war ha
been a proof OF the ability of de
mocracy to save itself from the aim
of an autocracy and America is in TIL
war for the preservation Of justic,
and liberty throughout the world
This, in brief, was Mr.. Peay's analyst
OF the war, delivered In eloquen
words and closing with a tribute t
President Wilson. In which he sal,
that this president of the Unite,
States will go down in history as
greater man than any general tina
ever wore a uniform.
Mr.. Peay said that he did not ente
the race for governor to crafty
personal ambition nor at the solicita
tions of either friends of politicians
/ but because he wahled to render
service to the state, not for the emolu
ments of the office, but for the salts
faction Of helping to rectify tn
states deplorable financial condition
He said that while the expenses O
government and all other things ar
| increasing because of the war and tina
| since the duration of the war is III
known to anyone, 1t Is but good bus
ness and good government to posi-
lpone new legislation and subordinat
all things not essential to winning tn
war. He said that no radical actic
is needed in Tennessee now. TIL
4 rapid increase in laws has already g
bewildered the people and the Law
yers that they find themselves unabl
to abide by them These numerou
laws are largely responsible for man
OF the ills of the land and are putin
the state and the counties to grea
and unnecessary expense. The juri'
diction of the courts have been dis
turbed by special acts and conflictin
laws. The best service that can no,
be rendered by any man is the pre-
vention of rad or useless Legislation
he appealed to the people to forge
the small and trivial things for the vi:
ions of the ideals that rest in the wiz
ming of the war.
Pointing the way IN which Tennes
see may emerge from the ambarral
sing financial crisis into which sh
has been plunged by. selfish polit
clans. Mr.Peay said that If he doe
no more in this campaign than t
awaken a demand among the peopl
for a business administration, he wi
be satisfied regardless of whether h
is elected. He predicted that unde
the present conditions the time is con
ing when assessments in Tennessee
will be three or four times as hig
as they now are and the tax rates tw
or three times as high. Tennessee ha
lost s1,200,OOO during the past tw
years due to the breach of trust o
the part of public officials, which b,
gan several years ago during tn
sharp antagonism that existed b.
tween the governor and the geners
assembly. The annual losses by tn
state will increase until they becom