The Covington leader. (Covington, Tenn.) 18??-current, 1918-07-26

y
state in better condition than when
entered that high office
When 1 came to run for reelection
was plainly notified that the remnant OF
these laWless forces, who claimed the
right to wear the livery of my party
would not support me at the polls unless
Ia the platform there was some conces-
slou made from my program of reform
l believe the people have not forgotten
that accepted that challenge. Those
matters are not pertinent issues in this
campaign, but as notice has been served
Oh me that these influences will seek to
destroy me in the coming primary | am
proud TO answer that | have never re-
GREETED and Shall never regret, the stand
that took on that occasion, and ] ask
the support of no man who opposes the
equal and Just enforcement OF the law
and the equal protection of the law in all
communities, and to all the citizens of
Tennessee.
/ During the period of my incumbency
the added responsibilities of a WAR Gov
! ernor' placed upon me have often bur-
denCd my soul with anxiety, lest during
the dark hours of our countrys peril
might fail to fully discharge my duty to
my government, my people and to my
God. But during it all | have patiently
endeayOred to do my duty as God has
given me to see it, and fulfill the pledge
of loyalty to the government as during
my official life as Governor l have hon
estly striVen to meet every obligation and
discharge and perform every public
pledge made by me to the people before
my election.
Platform in Brief
The platform on which / shall wage
battle for the nomination is brief 1t can
be fully expressed in three short words:
win the War'-Words that will find a
responsive echo in every loyal heart in
the land.
From that fateful day on which we
entered this contest, yea, even before,
accepted President Wilson as our coun-
try's leader and prophet l believe that
he has clearly declared the aims of the
great body of people Of this country and
it's allies, and the terms of the worlds
peace which the common people want,
and for that reason | have followed his
leadership, and can truthfully say today
that never, by thought, word, or deed,
have ! done aught to impede or retard
the progress he is so ably and earnestly
making toward the achievement Of the
glorious victory which lies yonder at the
termination of this bloody struggle. But
upon the other hand, in my humble way
] have contributed in every way that
could to the accomplishment of these pur-
poses.
As chief executive of great State,
which, up to this time, has furnished, in
round numbers, sixty thousand brave,
stalwart, courageous sons to fight for
your home and mine, many important
official duties and added responsibilities
deyolved upon me because of this war.
In the discharge of all these it has been
my constant aim and steadfast purpose
TO contribute in so far as | could, to make
Tennessee one hundred per cent efficient
in carrying out the varied program out /
lined from time to time and sent out
from Washington.
Tennessee has given splendid regiments
md oiHyr,f linn hn Not
Guard to the National Army. Her sons
have gone willingly as volunteers to |
every branch of the fighting service, !
whether on land or on sea or in the air. I
and her selected soldiery has responded I
to the call of their country with strong
patriotic devotion, and with the same |
eagerness and anxiety to serve in any
to which they might be assigned. |
have commissioned many officers in
hat splendid army. These splendid /
Young men have in every case received I
.hese commissions on merit in so far as /
t has been humanity possible to apply
hat test in advance of actual service.
They are from all parties and walks in
life, many of them neither my political |
lr personal friends, but all willing, thankf
God, to make the supreme sacrifice for
heir country, If necessary and submit
themselves to the vigorous test Of fitness
md capability prescribed by the govern
nent before gaining permanent status as
,fficers That so many OF these sue
,eeded Is indeed cause for qualification.
am further gratified that | have not
given or aided in securing
for able-bodied, eligible fight
rg men to fill War-proof desk positions in
or Washington, that some
avored one might not be exposed to the
hazards and dangers Of war
The work of the State Council of De- +,
ense. Of the Selective Draft Boards Of
he Fuel Food and Labor Departments, !
las been done by men who were selected
BECAUSE of their good sense, their known
atriotism and the belief that they, In
their important duties, would
ender just faithful and unselfsh service.
Nose who are at the head of these inn
ortant departments have worked unsel-
SHY in perfect accord and thorough har-
neny. win the war" has been their !
onstant purpose. and in the performance
f all complex and difficult duties they
ave sought and succeeded in inspiring
he right spirit and attitude in the minds :
f the people.
In all the great campaigns in Tennes-
ee for the sale of Bonds and War Saw
'gs Stamps, for contributions to the Y,
r. C.. A. and the Red Cross in fact. every Z
garcv Of the government engaged in war !
rtivity, has rendered loyal, patriotic SER
ice
All Of these great enterprises have met a
18th such generous support from every q
Il
OF only among the foremost of the States :
loyal support of the government, but I,
,day she ENJOYS the distinction of being I
We est-organiZed war State in the
MON. That all these things have been '
is due, in the main, to the =
ict that the great army OF willing work =
- have carried on and directed their 9
impaigns and activities in the proper G,
brit, animated only by the common pur- .
ose of winning the war. c
No man, nor can any body OF men, =
aim the exclusive credit for this splen =
ID record of our State. but believe the =
sople will credit my purposes and en- :,
savors In this work, and will give me :,
edit for whatever part my humble eff y
rts have accomplished. y
But regardless of my part, or my am !,
ton, / thank God that | can say to y
| men that Tennessee has put on the =
III armor of battle and faces destiny =
it'll serene courage. At her back stands
e most patriotic body of laboring people :
earth, and her farmers, her manufac- :,
rers, her sons and daughters, in all the
alks and stations of life, have so nobly y
sponded with their lives, their services, q
er property and their every effort and q
eir endeavor. g,
Claim Of Shields Organs n
The organs of the senior Senator have y
,ceasingiy declared that when President II
-ilson said Politics is adjourned that p;
intended for the intelligent voters OF ~
to understand that he wished ri
ID desired the senior Senator to be re- A
rned unopposed If that is just in II
rpretation of the Presidents declara- n,
IN, / ask the loyal sensible voters of hi
if they believe for a moment a
at by that statement he intended to A
We his approval to the candidacy of Al
nator Hardwick Of Georgia, of Varda- Ct
an of Mississippi. and other senators W
hose loyalty and patriotism may well be ~
~
Properly interpreted, the Presidents ~
atement was an appeal to the members hi
Congress to forget their selfish ambi- r.
ms. moving them to an adjeurnment, W