The news scimitar. (Memphis, Tenn.) 1907-1926, 1920-08-03
A Camnaign of M'srepresenta
ton and misunderstanding.


will determine II Tennessee shall have
n Democratic or a Republican governor
during the next two years. Gov Rob-
erts can be elected. His opponent
Crshtree. is impossible.
{ The fight against Gov, Roberts has
ranged from attacks upon his private
character to misrepresentation OF
every measure enacted during his adj
minlstratlon.
? The principal attack has been levs'ed
at the tax law, because It affords
greater opportunity for spreading
+ falsehood than any other measure The
three elements attacking the governor
because Of the tax law are those who
are ignorant OF its effect; those who
Intentionally misrepresent II for po-
X lltical effect, and those who heretofore
I have escaped taxation and under the
law must now pay their just proper
ton Of taxes.
A Elaring example OF misunderstand-
i ing is shown by the Fayette Falcon,
paper printed In Somervillo by our
: friend. Prof Loggins We cite some
of his statements because we know
Prof Loegins Is an honest man and
! Thoroughly convinced of tho truth OF
statements that have been made to
him Prof. Loggins owns some farm
land and We dare say It has been In
creased in assessment. We know Prof.
Logglns Is not opposed to Gov. Rob-
erts for that reason. because 1t is Tca-
sonably certain that his land, IL II is
not different from all other land In
( Fayette county. was not assessed at
anything like its value. and being in
terested in schools we know he is more
than willing to pay his just proportion
II taxes. Prof. Loggins has a success
ful paper. is eontented and prosperous,
and therefore can not be classed with
the disappointed offIco-seekers who
are against the governor for that rea-
son.
In recent Issue Of his paper he
stated that the section houses, owned
by the ~, c. e. st. l.. railway" were
assessed 'at $40 each, no more than
the cost OF a front gate today"
In a letter 70 Mr.. s, b. Reames,
Col Il. A. F,nloc chairman OF the rail-
road and public utilities commission,
states that the four section houses
were assessed at sl,4o0 In 1919, and as
sessed at $4,000 In 1890.
In another place In the same article
Prof LoGgins says: THE 1919 value
o. the N. g. C.'s water tank here at
their depot is sioo. fixed by the same
railroad commission"
Col Enloe's letter to Mr., Reames
states that the tank in question was
assessed at $500 in 1919, and at $3.50
IN 1890.
His tax scheme" continues the
Falcon in another article attacking
Gov. Roberts reduces tho taxes OF
big business in every instance and in
croases the taxes VI The sihah tax
payer"
The property owned by the railroad
in Fayette county has been increased
in every instance. The land, for cX-
ample. was increased from $3.50 to
$1,000, which is not out Of line with
the assessment OF property owned by
private individuals.
Concerning the school system the Fal-
con says: He has put the state
school system back into politics and has
harassed heads OF the state Institutions
So that two have been forced to re-
sign and another elected to head one
Of them dares not take office and place
himself under the influence Of the
Roberts regime"
As a matter of fact the friends OF
Gov. Roberts seem to have forgotten
70 take advantage Of the progress the
state has made under his direction in
school matters.
The state board of education Is COM
posed Of men of splendid ability. The
state textbook commission represents
the University Of Tennessee, the state
department Of education and the city
boards Of education Represented on
the commission Is the best talent in
our school systems
The textbooks are regarded as the
best ever adopted bv the state. There
has been no objection from any source.
Every city in the state for the first
time is using the state adopted books
At the head of the department Of
education is Albert VIII ans, who was
at one time principal OF the Airing
ton school. n young nan Of exceptional
ability.
Under Gov. Roberts administration
there is state wide tax Of cents. in
surfing every county in the state
seven months school term. Compare
that with rural school conditions OF
former years.
Who is Crabtree that he should ask
the Democrats Of Tennessee to nonI-
nate him for governor? What remedy
has he offered for the conditions he
complains Of?
Everyone knows that Crabtree, al
nominated could not be elected lie
is pleasant, affable. pompous and stu
pid. He is not even the author OF the
speech he makes a feeble attempt to
read. Statements attributed to him are
sent out without his knowledge, lie
dosen't know why he Is running or for
what. lie is a tub Of putty IN the hands
OF the worst single influence that ever
sought TO dominate the state.
We have no specisN interest IN Gov
Roberts, personally. We have nothing
personally against Crabtree, But the
assessment law is a good one. It Is the
law that Gov, Cox had to fight for In
Ohio. We do not want to see II mussed
up by an lgporamus like Cfabtree.
For ten years or more the state has
been running behind from 100000 TO
81 600, 900 a year. The state board Of
equalization has discovered enough IN
assessed property to make up tho def