Dresden enterprise and Sharon tribune. (Dresden, Tenn.) 1907-1997, 1920-07-09
ROBERTS MAKES
!. CONVERTS HERE
Chief Executive Given Atten-
.s tive Hearing. Large
Hi Crowd at Martin.

n Judge A. H. Roberts made many
converts in Weakley county on his
tour of the county last Monday,
when he spoke at Dresden in the
forenoon, Martin in the afternoon
and Greenfield at night.
The governor reached Dresden
Sunday morning, coming by auto
from Obion county. He was enter
tanned at the home of Judge and
Mrs. R. E. Maiden. He did not re-
ceive callers during that day, which
he spent in his room recuperating
from most strenuous week Of cam
paigning, delivering from one to
three speeches a day. However, on
Monday morning he received many
callers at Judge Maiden's office
and many pledges of support.
The governor delivered his usual
speech, bringing in no new matter
here. He was introduced by Repre-
sentative Garrett. In his introduc-
tory remarks Mr.. Garrett paid the
chief executive of the state very
high and deserved compliment and
complimented his administration as
governor. Gov. Roberts launched
right into his address, after thanking
Mr.. Garrett for his complimentary
introduction.
The large courtroom was filled,
with all standing room occupied, and
E the distinguished governor was given
close attention. In fact, the eager
ness with which his every utterance
was listened to was the subject OF
considerable comment, and when he
had finished a number who had pre-
viously been opposed to him went
forward and informed the governor
they had been converted and expec-
ted to support him.
Gov. Roberts said that formerly
the state collected 81, 100000 annu-
ally as liquor revenue; that now
none of this is available and that up
to the sitting of the last legislature
no provision had been made for
making up this vast sum lost to the
state, but that the last legislature en-
acted laws for the enforcement OF
the tax laws which will, if properly
administered, reimburse the state;
that Rye went into the governors
Office with an empty treasury and
deficit of 81 900, 600; that Gov. Rye
set about to enact measures to re-
cuperate the treasury. He showed
that the present assessment laws
were enacted back in 1858, and not
under his administration, but were
never enforced untif the last legisla-
ture enacted laws providing for its
strict enforcement; that the platform
of 1914 declared for it, recommend
ing a tax commission to equalize
taxes and it was urged upon the leg
islature by Gov. Rye in his message
70 the legislature; that Gov. Rye
again urged it in his message to the
legislature during his second term
That Gov. Ryeshad to issue 81 ,OOO,-
900 in state bonds and in addition 4
borrow that amount Of money.
When he went into office Rob s
erts found public debt of $4,000 :
300 hanging over the state, left over !
from the Hooper and Rye admins !
.rations, Of which he has paid off
81 100000 through economic Ope- t
-ations. curtailing sof useless offices, !
tic. He showed that the big Pull s
nan Co., the Standard Oil Co., and J
,ther big CORPORATIONS which had )
'ormerly done business in Tennessee Q
Without paying taxes had been made
o walk uD to the lick log under his U
administration and are now bearing i
heir just part Of the tax burden S
Without murmur. G
Gov. Roberts cited recent Fed t