The Chattanooga news. [volume] (Chattanooga, Tenn.) 1891-1939, 1920-07-31
Questions Propounded to Chief
Executive Carefully Side
stepped in Speech
Last Night.
LAW AND ORDER STRESSED
But Todd Personally Bill, Pub
lie Utilities Measure and
Suffrage Ignored.

A crowd which comfortably filled the
small courthouse auditorium, but al
ieast half of which left before he con
Guided, heard Gov. A. II. Roberts speak
IN Chattanooga last night In behalf OF
his denomination by the democratic
party OF Tennessee.
The decision of Gov. Roberts local
managers to have him appear at the
courthoi sc instead OF the Sunday taber-
nncle, where AL Taylor was heard the
preceding night by more than $500 per-
sons, proved a wise one for the crowd
OF 800 which he drew would have been
so completely lost in the latter struc-
speaker.
The governor was scheduled to begin
at o'clock, hut at that hour the small
auditorium was not more than half
1lled, so the appearance OF the chief
executive was delayed for thirty min
utes while brass band was sent out
on the courthouse lawn TO dispense the
stirring strains OF Dixie in order to
augment the assemblage.
Before the governor started speaking
Fire Marshal s. M. ludlow and other
state offica holders, who were appar-.
emily In Charge OF the floor arrange
ments' assembled probably fifty people
In the doors and corridor outside in an
effort to lend the effect OF an overflow
Gro Nd. Not realizing their motive, how
ever. the governor, when he began TO
speak called on them to come inside and
take the numerous seats that were
available. n
Dodaes Issues.
Gov Roberts speech, which practical
~ duplicated the one which he has de-
livered In other parts of the state was
mGsterfully evasive straddle,
Dodging the thirteen questions and
issues propounded by The News on the
iirst page of its issue Friday afternoon,
the governor devoted an hour and a
half OF the two hours he consumed. with
a rehash OF his Inflated law and order
speech or year ago by means of
which he unsuccessfully attempted to
convince the people OF Tennessee that
union labor in the state was nothing
more than an organization OF anarchists
ana bolsheviks until all official report
by the United States department of
justice hailed the Volunteer state as
the only one in the Union which was
absolutely free of reds"
me remaining thirty minutes OF his
address the governor devoted to an at
tempted Justification of his state tax
Machine, asserting that while he would |
continue to operate 1t, no matter how |
nuch opposition there might be. the !
democratic conventions which nominated |
iov. Rye were really the parents OF it. |
lie stated that he was elected without |
new platform and hence was bound
" those drafted for Gov. Rye,
The paramount issues OF the campaign
uch as the universally condemned pub
&c utilities bill. the Todd double tax
tlon measure. and the Insurance tax
tion bill aimed at the widows and Or
mans OF, the state, the governor evaded
ntirely.
No less completely did Gov. Roberts
20 AaA{ |
atihcation of suffrage would be in
luded In his call for an extra session.
ne governor at no time mentioned
ither suffrage or the extra session,
Attacks Small Counties.
In an effort to lessen the intense op-
osition in Hamilton, one of the big
2ur counties of the, state, to the opera
ions OF his tax machine, the governor
lunched a bitter attack on the smaller
ounties, promising that the majority OF
hem, notably Polk and Putnam, would
the future pay their JUST proportion
taxes into the state treasury, an
mount far In excess OF any they had
YER paid before.
Unable to arouse enthusiasm among
Is hearers through discussion of him
III and his record. Gov. Roberts, during
lie latter part his speech. found It |
ecessary to refer to President Wilson !
nj GOV. Cox. The mention of the Z
ames OF these two democratic giants
as hailed with wild applause.
Gov. Roberts failed to tell his au-
ence.r however, that when last year, .
ould speak In Chattanooga in behalf
the league OF nations at the time !
hen President Wilson was fighting SO q
separately for ratification Of the pes...
eaty. he called up T. C. THOMPSON
'er long distance telephone from
knoxville and entered an indignant de.
al. stating that he would confine his
marks to law and order alone. Gov.
oberts' opinion Of President Wilson and
policies has evidently changed even
ore completely than he charges his
ponents has on the matter OF state II
Ration. v
Gov. Roberts early in his speech gave u
nications OF intending to attack Col. Il
eantree. his opponent; g. r. Milton U
blisher OF TheNews, and Col Like Il
"a, publisher OF the .Tennessean. who. G.
charged controlled him. His OMEN q
remarks along this line were re- Il
wed In such complete silence, how n
err that he RETAINED. He charged that IT
tnree had formerly supported the a.
utterly condemn, and could not offer a.
better substitute. This charge, OF b.
luire denial h
iov. Roberts stated that under his tax e
assure, corporations like the Pullman u
npany- the Standard OIL company, u
d the packers were really paying oil
Ves for the first time. He also stated ~
It he was confident that Hamilton i,
lntians were In favor OF his state u
ding machine now that they have III
m 1t in full operation but he failed to IN
tie that on the day he was speaking IN
, equalization board OF Hamilton had VI
proved Of Tax Assessor HowelPs ac- al
n in slashinR the fgures ~ Roherts. ca