Carthage courier. (Carthage, Tenn.) 1913-current, 1919-02-06
G. w. ALLEN
MAKES REPLY

To the editor of the Courier
In your last weeks issue, you saw
fit to print gratuitous insult to the
people of Smith county, which was
copied. / believe, from a so-called
farm journal published at Nash
vile. do not know your reason
for printing so slanderous and libel
GUS an attack upon the people among
whom you live and who, incidentally
help you to live, but it certainly does
seem to ME that it was out of the
proper province of a county news
paper 10 print such stuff.
The article is not worthy of a re-
ply. Those who know Smith county
know it is untrue, but / desire in the
interest of truth and justice to COM
nlapt little on some OF the state
lS1e4eAtof this estate officiap He says
in part: They have no roads; their
schools are a disgrace; they have no
use for the public health work" Now
believe l am as familiar with the
roads of Smith county as almost any
.1one in the county and, while many o.
our roads are undeniably bad, we
still have some excellent roads. For
illustration, in the Fourth District
where live, the county roads are a.
good as can be found in almost any
county in the state. Smith county is
bounded by six counties and the roads
in Smith county are, as a whole, bet
ter than those of the adjoining coun.
ties, not even excepting the county
of Putnam which is staggering along
under an Indebtedness for road bonds
on which she can scarcely meet the in
terest.
The statement that our schools
s''are disgrace" is the worst hbe
of the three. The people of Smith
county are as intelligent and cultured
as those of any rural county in the
state. They believe in education anG
our County Court goes the limit il
levying assessments for the common
schools. At Carthage, Gordonsville
Elrnwood and Lancaster, there arr
schools and school buildings that
would reflect credit upon towns o.
much larger size. And, in general
the schools and teachers would com
pare most favorably with those OF
any county in the state. There are
many men and women employed as
teachers in these schools who are
trained and skilled educators, and
am quite sure that they will not
relish the statement that these schools
in which they have labored long anC
earnestly are a disgrace"
The statement that we shave no re
gard for the public health" IS on par
with the others. We have an able anC
efficient County Health Board. Every
epidemic that comes under their jul
risdiction has been promptly sup
pressed, and we have had but few
Our County Court few years age
voted a substantial appropriation fol
the hook worm campaign, and at its
last session, voted an appropriation OF
$500 for sanitary work in the county
Now, Mr.. Editor, what l have writ
ten has been done in all kindness OF
spirit. l like you and l like youl
paper, but / must say that can but
condemn your course in giving space
in your columns to articles so de
famatory of the people of our county
and, not only not protesting agains
them, but, on the contrary, giving
them your endorsement. I was borl
in this county. / expect to live am
die here, and / am proud of the fac
that / am a citizen of Smith county
And, in the future, let's you and
and all of us devote our time anC
energy towards it's upbuildment anC
improvement and not try to drag /
down and belittle it before the world
Very respectfully,
G. w. ALLEN
Feb. 4, 1919. Dixon Springs, Tenn