The news scimitar. (Memphis, Tenn.) 1907-1926, 1920-07-26
The Only Issue.

The people Of Tennessee must he
familiar by this time with the only
issue in the gubernRtorial contest to
be decided in the August primary.
Some enormously attributed II in the
beginning to the application Of the as
sessment law placing all property on
an equal basis Of valuation for tax
purposes.
Not a single logical objection has
been made TO the law. There are a
few who have never paid anything like
their proportion Of taxes that are maxi
ing quite a howl about the law, but
they can be siented by showing that
they have been barnacles on the state
consuming it's substance, sharing in its
benefits and contributing little or moth
ing to its upkeep.
The loudest against the assessment
law are some who have no property TO
tax and never win have until they go to
work and quit following down and out
politicians in the vain hope for the
triumph of the impossible.
Others who protest against the law
know that II IL good law. and many
Of them have given 1t unqualified ap-
prevail but depend upon political leger-
dermain to deceive the voters OF the
state. They are not interested In taxes,
the dear farmer" or anything except
their decayed political fortunes, They
are assuming to capitalize the supposed
ignorance of the taxpayer. 1t is for
tunate that the people are wiser than
the politicians or there might be cause
10 fear their success,
The fundamental law OF the state
provides that all property shall be as
sessed at its actual cash value. 1t was
on the statute books long before Gov.
Roberts came into public life. Tho crea-
ton of the state board OF equalization
merely prescribes the method Of making
Il effective.
For many years the state has been
running behind in its revenue. A few
have been bearing the greater part OF
the burden. A great many have escaped
altogether. Those who escaped are the
larger owners who in some counties
actually have subsidized the assessora
There was no way to reach them until
the passage Of the statewide law.
Those who proclaim that their taxes
are going to he largely increased are
confessing that they have imposed upon
other taxpayers in the past, Under
the law no person will pay more than
bis just proportion Of taxes. The deficit
in the state revenue will be made up
from those who have escaped alto.
gether Instead Of protesting against
the law that Is fair TO everyone, they
should take zip a collection among their
neighbors TO pay their taxes.
AS to the candidates, II must he well
known that this paper owes nothing to
Gov Roberts II Is not called upon to
counsel or advise him, He has advisors
Of his own choosing, as all seekers after
wisdom should have
But Gov. Roberts is asking for the
customary second term. His record
in office justifies IT, There has been
little In his administration TO criticize
and much TO commend At least he is
an Improvement over the governors the
state has had during the past seven
or eight years.
Crabtree, his opponent, is utterly i'm
possible TO be thought Of in connection
with an office OF the dignity and re-
sponsibility OF governor. No person OF
so little consequence has ever been con-
sidered seriously for governor before
He is q joke OF the crudest sort II he
should be nominated he could not be
elected, and there IL serious doubt II he
should be
He is the acknowledged puppct Of a
dextorous and energetic Nashville politI-
clan whose ambition apparently can not
he quenched by repeated defeat at home
and abroad
Crabtree has never generated an orig
inal idea. He accepts what Is handed
him by his political master, including
his speech, which he has never mem
oriSed and is scarcely able to read. He
Is the possessor Of comfortable for
tane which he did not earn or inherit.
but, we are informed came by 1t in the
customary way that makes Il Just H.
available for practical purposes as
though II represented initiative or
ability on his part or on the part Of
his forbears.
The Democrats Of Tennessee will rem
der a service to their party and to the
state in supporting Gov Roberts for
denomination. Crahtree could not lee
seriously az the nominee.