The Chattanooga news. [volume] (Chattanooga, Tenn.) 1891-1939, 1920-07-26
'ETOWAH STRONG
FOR CRABTREE
Hustlihg Little McMinn CITY
Is Stronghold for Chatta.
- no0gan.
tsY JAMES n..RInrA

Etowah, July 26.--This hustiinT little
town, situated In q beautiful valley Al
the foot Of the Chilhowie mountains
looks like Crabtree stronghold In the
political sense. Large railroad shops
arc located here. They employ between
700 and 800 mechanics and other work
men. AS well as can be learned with
| out careful investigation these en-
nlCyes are about equally divided be-
tween the two old parties. At the low
est calculation there are $50 democrats
In the mass. All of them, or prac-
tlcally so, are for Col. Crabtree for
governor. They are well organized and
bitterly opposed to Gov. Roberts. Sew
eral hundred stalwart young fellows.
all wearing overalls and black with the
crime OF railway shops. have aligned
themselves with the Crabtree movement
fof governor and will vote for him In
the August primary. Nor Is this all. by
any means. in Etowah. Citizens In other
walks Of life have also Joined the Crab
tree column. / mention the laboring ele-
mont first for the reason that Etowah
Is largely sustained by the railroad
shopmen and other employees OF the
great railway system that put this town
on the map.
Etowah is a wonderful development.
Before the coming OF the railroad II was
tracted but small attention. Now It is
q thriving. prosperous community and
finds itself on the itinerary OF every
travelling man In the territory and a
town that people like to visit. Across
the valley from the business part of
town, the Chilhowie mountains loom
into view,. and farther away peaks OF
the Blue ridge and Great Smokes are
plainly seen. Merchants are doing a
prosperous business. There Is some
manufacturing interest here also. A good
newspaper is published here and the
town has modern hotel. Etowah is a
town that the visitor does not like to
leave, He enjoys his stay among these
people and their environment.
Quite a number Of the most influen-
tial citizens Of Etowah have aligned
themselves with the Crabtree move
mente Harry l.. Bevan. an old and ac-
complished newspaper man, formerly Of
wah Enterprise, has taken the lead here
in the Crabtree Organization. Col. G.
X. Kinsey, recorder of thee town, Is
likewise for Crabtree So are City
Marshal Kemp and others around the
new municipal building. They have a
strong organization and are working
enthusiastically for Crabtree.
Don't Like Roberts.
To illustrate the depth of the oppo- |
sltion here to the nomination of Gov. |
1t is but stating the facts TO |
say that no man mentioned In the fore |
cling ever saw Col, Crabtree. In way |
they know what manner OF man he Is, |
but their support Is not personal |
tribute to him. 1t Is more n condem-
nation Of Gov. Roberts, or a number OF
things he has done, that actuates them
in their work for Crabtree. To man
hey do not believe he can succeed
himself IL nominated. They do believe
that IL, Col. Crabtree is nominated
he can be elected. Recorder kimsey Is
4 man OF force. He is not in the
east afraid to talk. ~ never saw Col.
lent. However, I know that he Is a
good democrat and a safe man for gov
,rnor. ] want no more OF GOV. ROD
srts. / am confident that IL Col. Crab
rec is elected old-time democracy
will be restored to, the state capitol,
md that graft, extravaganza, waste
md vice will be driven from public
yiew at least In Nashville. II Is I'M
ortunate that Gov. Roberts has in
volved the democratic party in a bad
ness, but he has done SO. ana the oniy
way to save the party, as / View 1t, is
o get rid of Roberts. We can elect
col Crabtree; we cannot re-elect Gov.
soberts. l do not believe there Is an
Intelligent democrat in McMinn county
Who believes 1t possible for Gov. Rob-
rts to succeed himself"
This labor and town of Etowah sup
ort OF Col. Crabtree is backed almost
by the farmers OF this end
I McMinn county. Etowah furnishes
hem a good market for their surplus
urn products. They are now hauling
egetables TO be found anywhere. A
sadly market is found with the people :
nd produce merchants and shippers.
Few Farmers for. Roberts.
II you go out among them you will
ION find where they stand on this gov
, an intelligent farmer who owns his
lrm who is for the reelection of Gov. q
oberts. They are opposed to him be- 8
luse of the new assessment law. The
ssessments OF their farm have been
ultiplied by three or four. and some- d
mes by five. Men who never saw the :
rms have made the assessments. That 4
le farmers are going to pay higher
Ixes Is very evident to the farmers
no matter what the gov \
nor and his campaign speakers may
" to the contrary.
The farmers of this county, without
! exception. SO far as / have found,
Ike this view OF the situation, and
le view IL probably more positively
ated around Etowah than In any
her part Of McMinn county. They r
ent out to hear the governor when he {
slted the county some weeks ago, and
ter hearing him. returned home In
of a comatose state OF mind.
hey were not converted to the Roberts
ca OF assessments and taxation. As q
lief from what many of them con- :,
der an injustice to the farmers OF y
g state, II not a political crime, they Il
e supporting Col. Crabtree. One old =
rmer said to me: I'VE know what we
III get from Gov. Roberts. If he is re- =,
,cted. II he gets back into office II q
II not be by the support OF the farm :,
; OF McMinn county" a.