Dresden enterprise and Sharon tribune. (Dresden, Tenn.) 1907-1997, 1920-07-30

fully discussed by the commission
and the representative of the feder'
al government. They had complied
with the law in all respects, had for
feited ard paid the forfeit. 1t was
purely business transaction. Had
we refused to consider their bid we
should have hid to let the contract
to the next lowest bidder under the
second advertisement. This would
have cost the people exactly $25-
O65.82 more than it is costing as is
shown by the above statement. The
REPRESENTATIVE of the, fedral govern
ment which is furnishing one-half
of the money upon the whole con-
tract would never have agreed to
such a procedure and it was the
unanimous view of the state COM
mission that it would have been
subject to gravest censure had it
done so.
1t seems that Crabtree would have
had us do this. | understand he
stated in his talk here that would
not suit him for highway commits
sioner because my ideals were not
in accord with his. If rejecting bid
upon public work paid for at popu-
lar expense and accepting another
which would cost the people twenty
five thousand dollars more for the
same work is his ideal he is quite
correct as to my not suiting him for
commissioner I wouldn't.
We accepted the bid, Murphy &
Phillips executed the bond and are
doing the work to the entire salts
faction of every person interested.
l am informed further that Crab
tree so stated this transaction here
as to try to make the impression that
my brother-in-law, Lee Elliott, was
interested in this contract at the
time it was let He knew better. In
my statement, which he had read, l
gave the facts about this.
Mr.. Elliott purchased a one
third interest from Mr.. Phillips April !
II, 1920. This was more than two
and one-half months after the con-
tract had been let and it was long
after work had begun. Prior to
that time he had no more interest |
in it than Crabtree. l never knew
until Crabtree's first interview ap-
peared that Elliott had bought an
in the contract.
This was known to Crabtree when
he attacked me in the courthouse at
Dresden in the very room where for
years I have. served the people of
county in an official ca
pacity, and when he attacked me
on the streets Of Martin. He has
refused to meet Gov. Roberts in
oint discussion. Some of the rea-
sons for this are plain to all who
lave heard him try to address an
audience. Another strong reason is
hat he wishes to make misrepresen-
ations which cannot be corrected
m the spot and let them go out and
,oison the minds of those who are
lenied the opportunity of learning
he truth. / repeat he knew the
acts. If the democrats Of Weakley
ounty; if my friends in Weakley
ounty are prepared to vote for
man for the high office of gov
rnor of this proud state who,
moving the facts, deliberately, will
lilly and for the purpose of de-
ewing, states that which is untrue
lus misleading them as to an i'm
ortant public matter, I cannot of :
'urse prevent their so doing. .
l am too deeply panied to attempt i
wv to comment upon the part Il
ken and the matters l under
and to have been stated relative r
myself by Judge Jones in his ~
eech of introduction. 9,
Gov. Roberts is making his can b
IS for nomination upon the highest ~
ssible plane, appealing only to the b,
diligence and understanding of :.
2 people. His administration has -
EN- progressive and clean. Public :,
cessity has made it essential to re-
rm the assessment laws of the ~
tie. The enemies of Gov. Roberts r
not let the people know that had -
new assessment plan not been =,
opted and we had proceeded under -
: old plan the tax rate on the old
sis Of valuation would have had
be increased. The loss of rev. |:
ues from the sale of liquor and |;
, increased expenses of our state |:
d county governments rendered /
impossible to avoid raising more ]
'ney by direct taxation. UponI I
, old basis instead of payingI |:
or a.. IL. L. IL - - !?