The Lexington progress. (Lexington, Tenn.) 1884-current, 1920-02-20
VOLUME XXXVI
CLYDE SHROPSHIRE
WRITES TO AUSTIN PEAY.

Hon. Clyde Shropshire, of Nash
vile, whose public career has con-
sisted of a sentence or two to the
General Assembly and who, men of
good memory will recall as having
"slso ran" for the gubernatorial NOM
ination, lastFriday wrote an open let
ter to Hon. Austin Peay, of Mont
gomery county, who was Democrat
ic candidate for the nomination for
Governor in 1918 and was defeated
by Chancellor A. H. Roberts.
Mr.. Shropshire does not presume
or have any intention whatsoever to
offer Mr.. Peay any gratuitous advice
as an individual, but as a Democrat
of the "old school" he claims the
right to point out some observations
that may in some way aid the Demo-
cratic party, of which he says both
are proud to be members and we can
add that both had so-called Demo-
cratic connections which both ought
to have been ashamed. We shall not
quote the Honorable Clyde's words,
but shall endeavor to reproduce from
his letter the matters therein which
he doubtless considered points"
He tells Mr.. Peay of the harmful
results to the party that would al
most surely follow his candidacy,
bring about a heated and bitter cam
paign, when above ALL THINGS
party harmony is desired this year.
He comedies for the sake of argu-
ment (when he is doing all the ar
guing) that Mr.. Peay wants the Of
flee and is not willing to wait his
turn-which is news to the people
that Mr.. Peay or any other man has
any turn. Clyde further admits that
Peay's only argument ESQ he does ad-
nit it in an argument) against Rob-
erts is the governors responsibility
for the new assessment law, which
calls for. the assessment of property
at it's value, (just as the old law did
and which new law has already. cost
the taxpayers Of the S1ste ONE
MIR i a1lJSAalJ f55JI.
LARS) but Mr.. Shropshire assures
Mr.. Peay that he believes Gov. Rob-
erts will gladly assume absotive and
posilute responsibility for that law
and CHEERFULLY MEET PEAY
ON THE ISSUE. But then it would
be demagagic in Peay to stir up the
people of Tennessee and thereby in
vite almost inevitable defeat in No
vember, no matter whether Roberts
or Peay be the candidate in the gen.
eral election. Mr.. Shropshire throws
it up to Peay that he, (Peay) as a
candidate two years ago, stood for
the reformation of the fiscal system
in Tennessee. (Which most anybody
will again stand for and perhaps be
able to suggest some plan to put in
70 operation a law already on the
statutes at a cost of even less than
ONE HUNDRED THOUSAND DOL
LARS.) Clyde says he holds no brief
to speak for Roberts and says that if
Roberts knew he was going to write
that open letter he would veto it. We
believe it-and we do not know of
anybody else Clyde could appeal to
to carry it over the Governors veto.
Clyde was opposed to Roberts in 1918
and was for Peay by preference, but
he wants to go on record now that
if Peay enters the race in the Aug
ust primary, there will not be enough
left of him to make greasy spot
just as as. sure as the Sun will
rice" on that primary day-and
beside all that Peay will be posilutely
and forever amen eliminated from
politics in Tennessee.
Shropshire leads his readers to be-
leve that if Peay runs twill be by
the consent of small politicians who
always see selfish advantage and re-
gard public office as personal as
set-and Ia ra ra boom de ray. II the
Hon Clyde can not evolve an open let
ter of General interest" (the partic-
ular in which a certain critic said
some of W. v. Barry's "Reminiscen-
ces" failed) we would advise him not
to go into the business of letter writ
ing for profit.