The Lexington progress. (Lexington, Tenn.) 1884-current, 1920-06-25
NUMBER AZ
COLONEL CRABTREE
OPENS CAMPAIGN.

r, Crabtree of Chattanooga in open
ing his campaign last Saturday at
Murfreesboro for the Democratic
nomination for Governor in the Aug
ust primary:
come to confer with you about TIE
government of the State of Tennes-
see, and, as a candidate, to state the
principles in which l believe, and TO
suggest some remedies for the cure
of the evils from which our great
commonwealth is sick unto death.
became candidate for the Demo-
cratic nomination for governor only
when Democrats all over the state de-.
manded return to Democratic sim
plicity, economy and efficiency in
government, and sought relief frCm
the whims, caprices, selfishness and
extravaganza of the Roberts admins
tration.
| seek the support of all Democrats
who wish to see the restoration Of
real democratic government in Ten
nessee, not tainted by machine poll
tics, political schemes and self-seek-
ing.
When Governor Roberts was first
nominated he had no Democratic
platform to guide his course. His
acts and policies were net dictated by
party principles, and the Democratic
party is not responsible for the laws
he has had enacted, nor can our party
be held responsible for the extraya-
gance, wrongs and inefficiency that
has marked his course.
A wholesome custom has accorded
to good governors second term. To
attempt to stretch this practice into,
lone giving every governor second
term is a violation of our constitutions
that wisely fixes the term Of the gov
ernor at two years, so that governors.
like Governor Roberts may not mis-
govern the state for longer period
THAN two years. N. ga-e
| submit that Governor Roberto
record as governor does not deserve.
an endorsement. ;
| am not here to discuss Governor
Roberts private character and per- =
sonal doings. | have no personal
lquarrel with him, but will fail in my
duty to you and to my state, if do
not speak plainly about his official
record and acts.
Tax Law Vicious, Unfair.
Governor Roberts new-fangled tax
system is unfair, undemocratic, W
cious and extravagant.
This tax system is unfair in that it
is founded upon a misconception of
the biblical injunction that ITO him
who hath shall be given, and from
him who hath not even that little
shall be taken away"
Governor Roberts tax law singles
out real estate, and especially farm
lands, as its target and places upon
the already bent backs Of the farm
ers the entire burden of raising the
revenue to meet the annual deficit
now so greatly increased by the riot-
Gus extravaganza Of this adminatra-
tion.
Governor Roberts pledged economy
in his campaign speeches, demanded
in his messages to the, Legislature,
and yet in private conferences with
legislators, and as a member of the
emergency board. has been the leader
of wanton, if not criminal, waste Of
the taxpayers money.
While every other state and the
Federal Government we're constituting
old laws and enacting new statutes
to relieve the farmers of all possible
burdens so that production Of the
necessaries Of life might he stimulat-
ed, Governor Roberts alone has plac-
ed such burdens upon their shoulders
that production is hindered, and
farming made so unattractive that
farm lands and products are selling
for less today than they did two years
ago. While farm lands and products
have deprecated in price, every com
modify that the farmer buys for him.
self or his farm costs more than it
did a year ago.
Governor Roberts admitted the IN
justice of his system in putting this
burden on the farmers alone when he
had his representatives in the last
House and Senate introduce a bin
similar to the real estate tax law
dealing with personality taxes.
The difference between these two
classes Of property owners is that the
farmers are not wealthy, are unor-
a.