Carthage courier. (Carthage, Tenn.) 1913-current, 1919-03-06
BILLY REARS ON HIND LEGS AND n
FROTHS OVER IMAGINARY assault

In last weeks issue of the Courier,
we saw fit to offer some adverse
criticism to a local bill, dragging the
schools of Smith county into the mire
of politics, passed by the Hon. w. G.
Wilson. This modest criticism seems
to have touched Bro. Wilson's sore
spot and has caused him to throw a
''brain storm" No, his lengthy effort
at reply should not be called "brain
storm, but rather a conglomeration
of malice, wrath and insinuations, all
mixed up with his usual amount
of demagogy. In order that the pub
lie might judge for themselves, we
print elsewhere. in this issue Billy's
communicate just as he wrote it, and
you are invited to read it and see if it
is not composed chiefly of demagogy
and altogether void of intelligence. In
making the criticism, it was not in
tended to excite Brother Wilson's
wrath, but it did. He imagines
he has been "assalted" and rears up
on his hind legs, froths at the mouth
and emits the above described
mixture, all because we did not ap-
prove his attempt to drag the school
children of Smith county into poll
tics.
In one place in his storm, the gen
tleman takes umbrage at the word
"wee and asks that "we" be identified.
just here, we announce to Mr.. Wilson
that the I'VE" used in last weeks
article and the 1--WE" used in this ar
ticle refers to Fred Myers and Jere
Gardenhire, absolute and sole owners,
editors, publishers and general mana
gers of the Carthage Courier, who are
responsible for all it says. For near
ly six years we have been publishing
the Carthage Courier and have advo-
Gated movements which, in our judg-
ment, would tend to better living con-
ditions; stimulate the good and sup
press the evil; commend the noble
acts of our fellowmen and throw the
mantle of charity over their faults;
pluck thorn and plant rose; avoid
anger and disSension, and work for
our common good. This is our natural
inclination. We have found it a good
and pleasant course to pursue, and to
deViate therefrom is an unpleasant
task, more especially in this instance,
as we have no personal ill will, what
ever, toward Mr.. Wilson. But the
time has come when duty demands
that we warn the people against such
chinquapin demagogy as Billy and
others of his ilk have been handing
out to the people for the past few
years. 1t is nothing but demagogy
that is retarding the progress of the
county and hindefing its advance
ment; it is such that keeps US in ig-
norance and mud; and the authors of
this demagogy, for selfish purposes,
poison the minds of the unsuspacting
people of the county with malicious
prejudice, one section toward another.
The people of Smith county ought
not to longer listen to men of such
calibre who, probably know better, but
to further their political or other self
ish ambitions, endeavor to poke down
the people ideas that are behind our
forefathers. 1t is time for bigger and
broader men to assert themselves and
down the peanut demagogues, and put
Smith county in the front ranks OF
progress, where she justly belongs, by
building pixies from one end to the
other, from one side to the other, and
placing first-class schools in every
community. We advocate such i'm
provements and are willing to do ouI
part with the cash; and we can have
them if the people will only turn g
deaf ear to the demagogues. Smith
will then be one of the leading coun.
ties of the state, and our citizens viii
no longer move to other sections, but
will be contented and happy to remain
| in their old home circles. Some OF
these words may appear harsh, but
this is not a time to mix smooth
phrases-only plain and blunt facts