The Covington leader. (Covington, Tenn.) 18??-current, 1920-07-29
CRABTREE SPEAKS
TO Upton VOTERS
SATURDAY AT GARLAND, GOV.
INGTON AND MUNFORD
Heard by Representative Audience in
Courthouse in COvingtOn-Judge ].
I. Peete Makes Introductory Speech
Col. Crabtree Attacks Governor
Roberts Record.

Col. w. r. Crabtree, Of Chatta-
nooga, candidate for the Democratic
nomination for governor of Tonnes
see, spoke at Garland at o'clock last
Saturday morning, at COvington at 2
o'clock and at Munford at 4:30 in the
afternoon.
He was heard at the courthouse
here by an audience of about 200 citi-
zeng. who gave him the closest at
tention during his speech Of a little
more than an hour He was intro
duced to the audience in most timely
speech by Judge John Y. Peete While
the weather was very warm and Col.
Crabtree seemed much fatigued, he
held the interest Of his hearers
throughout his speech.
His speech was along the lines Of
his regular campaign speech, though
he introduced some new matter.
Among other things, Col Crabtree
insisted that Gov. Roberts should not
be re-nominated because LIST: he is
seeking to impose tax system on the
people of Tennessee which is vicious,
undemocratic, inefficient and extrava-
CANT" Secondly, because he had APP
proved the public utility law, which
renders the cities helpless in the
hands Of the railroad commission.
Thirdly, because Of extravaganza of
his administra ion. Fourthly, be-
cause he has caused the charitable
and penal institutions Of the State to
be again thrus: into politics by having
their heads appointed by the gov
ernor. Filthy, because he has all
lowed members Of his legislature to
be appointed to offices by his boards
to the scandal Of the State.
Col Crabtree said that he did not
come to criticise the personal record
of the governor, but had much to say
about his official record. He landed
on the new assessment law with both
feet, declaring it to be vicious and
unfair, He charged that more than
100000 had already been spent by
the State in putting the law into eff
feet. He said that this expense alone
would be more than the annual deficit
Of the State. He charged that the
governor, in his administration, was
extravagant with the taxpayers
money. He cited the appointment of
II more fire marshals than allowed
by law. He also said that II mem
bers Of the legislature were holding
appointive offices under the governor,
contrary to the spirit Of the law Of
the State. The governor, he charged,
had the legislature pass Is separate
measures increasing the power Of the
chief executive.
Ii closing, the speaker said that he
favored budget system for the
States finances, increased pay for
school teachers, increased pensions
for old soldiers, equal suffrage, main
tenance Of present prohibition laws
and the employment Of men for State
work on merit.
The taxpayers here have been
promised 68-cent rate on their as
sessment, but Judge Peete and others
are not disposed to believe under the
conditions It can be held down to this
figure if the sliding scale reduces the
tax on corporations as it has done IN
other counties
The State tax statisticians fixed the
assessment Of this county at $2l, OOO,-
900, but the county assessor took last
years assessment and multiplied it by
threa. which gave him total of $751;
100000, and the county board Of
equalizers accepted these figures as
the aggregate. OF course these fig
ures have vet to be passed on BY the
State board and no one can tell what
that board will do, so the taxpayers
are left rather in the dark.
II Col. Crabtree announced during his
speech that iii elected he would not
Be d candidate for a second term:
Col. Crabtree Was formerly mayor Of
the city Of Chattanooga and at one
time speakaa the State Senate,