The news scimitar. (Memphis, Tenn.) 1907-1926, 1920-06-18
Demand Proof of Sperry.

a In their letter Memphis soldiers brand
me remarks as utterly false and un-
speakably offensive" and demand thai
operry prove the allegations or apollo
slze Tor your despicable conduct
Sperry has been invited to come IN
Memphis at their expense and submit
proof such as would be admissible in
court OF justice or sing unto the de-
characters"
col, Luke Lea needs no defense at
our hands,' the letter continues. ''His
attempt to capture the German emperor
lhe guest of little Holland (mention-
ea by you, so pathetically), whose peo-
l1e gave aid and comfort to our enemies
while all the allies kept the faith and
respected her neutrality is matter OF
history Let the record speak, not the
The letter fsiIows:
we, the undersigned members of
Battery A, 1l4th field artillery, A. +.
r., nave read with amazement and re-
sentiment your. interview published in
The Memphis News Scimitar of June
lo, regarding the war record of our
commanding officer, Col. Luke Lea
tive, unhestatingly brand your in
speakably offensive, and as evidencing
abysmal ignorance on your part, and we
demand that you either prove these al
legations or apologize for your despica-
Ibit .tAHuupI. Z
tSFar from the home OF those Who
served with Col. Lea and at such a
safe distance as tC avoid personal ac-
Il countabillty, you have sought to black
ehrthe good name of n patriotic Amer-
San, courageous soldier, and a loyal
reader o1 his men, and If you repre-
sent the spirit Of fair play and justice
that marks the real American, You will
welcome the opportunity to prove the
truth OF your asserations or make prop
er amends We, therefore, invite you
to come to Memphis at our expense
and submit proof such as would be ad-
mlsslble in court of justice. to sus-
tain your vicious charges. or sink into
the degraded class of a cowardly as
sassin of character.
4 We challence you to publish the
fscores of letters from private SOL
diers of Tennessee relative to Col. Lea's
avowal to run for office. This state
lnent, in view of the fact that Col. Lea
is not candidate for office, is its own
refutation and is a safe indication OF
the falsity of your entire interview, as
well as Of the type of person you are.
Z You have malicously maigned q
man, evidently because he was an Of
ficer and because you head an organi-
zation of enlisted men,, You attempt
10 stir up strife between the officer
and the private soldier. Such pro-
cedure is unworthy Of your Organiza-
ton, particularly as you do not state
the facts in this instance. Honest criti-
csm of an officers record is the privi-
lcge Of everyone, but untrutnful attacks,
by whatever motives inspired, deserve
the fullest and most vigorous condem-
nation.
"Col. Lea needs no defense at our
hands. His attempt to capture the
German emperor the guest of little
Holland mentioned by you so pa
thetically) whose people gave aid and
comfort TO our enemies while all the
allies kept the faith and respected her
neutrality, is a matter of history. Let
the record speak, not the tongue of a
viper.
The issue is now joined. You may
choose between the standards of true
Americanism and base vlliany, We
await your reply.
The letter is signed by Abe p. Wal
dauor Homer r. Pollard, Fred L. wal
lace &. $. Plumb, Marshall G. Newman,
Joseph Lambert James Clarke, Orbra
Keywood, Carlos b. Tutwiler, William
+. Buchanan, Kenneth f.. Johnson, w
p. Cook, q. NJ Mitchell l.. NJ. Con-
molly, William Berlacb. r. T. Robinson,
Harry j. Light Clement Santi, \. Bar
rassc, SviO BarTasso, Percy Kuntz,
Phillip Narui. j. j. Dolan, r. l.. Bates,
r. J. Mccormack, Guy L. Joyner and
Walter Chandler.