The Covington leader. (Covington, Tenn.) 18??-current, 1921-05-05
MANY ASPIRING RI
THE Gl)VERNORSHIP

The GU URSHIF
TWO HAVE ANNOUNCED THEIR
CANDIDACY ALREADY
Austin Beay and Harvey Hannah
Appear Strong Democratic Party
Needs Man Political Machine Can
Not Control and is Free Of Pc.
lltical Alignments-More Com.
ment on Bonus Grabbers.
Judging from the signs Of times
there are several gentlemen Of the
state who are ambitious to become
governor Of Tennessee at the expira-
ton Of the present term of Gov. Tay-
Tor. All of those 50 far named and
have announced their candidacy rep
resent the Democratic party and are
already seeking the influence Of the
leaders Of that party to aid them in
securing the nomination. General
Harvey Hannah and Clyde Shrop-
shire have been publicly announced
through the press and are, it is re-
ported, busy comforting with the
politicians Of the state. But the
time has come in the history of Ten
nessee when the control of the
states affairs should be wrested from
the hands of politicians and turned
over to men possessing a higher de-
gree of craftsmanship than has
recently been displayed bv repre-
sentatives Of the Democratic party.
The Democratic party needs for its
standard bearer in the next guber-
Material campaign a man over whom
any politician OF political machine
has no power, and is entirely free Of
any political alignments. The Hon.
Austin Peay, Of GAINESVILLE, is such
d man. He is a man whose charac-
ter, public and private, is above re-
proach. Mr.. Peay is a man who is
worthy Of the highest integrity Of
purpose, who, during his campaign
for governor against Gov. Roberts,
demonstrated real craftsmanship,
equal to such men as Isham G. Har-
ris, Edward Carmack and other
noted Tennesseans. Mr.. Peay is a
man who holds dear every trust and
whose private life is above reproach.
He has been irnportuned bv hum
dreds of the most representative
Democrats Of Tennessee to agree to
again become candidate for the
place Of governor. and has stated ia
the last few days that he had de-
cided to answer the call affirma-
lively Mr.. Peay's business tact
makes him a most suitable man for
governor at this time, as the financial
affairs Of the state need rearrang-
ing in order to nrevent bankruptcy.
In fact, Austin Peav is the logical
candidate for the Democratic nomi-
nation at the next Democratic pri-
mary, and It will behoove every
lover Of his state and true Democrat
to aid IN making him the standard
bearer Of the partv next wear and
thus rescue the Democratic marty
from the hands Of the political
tricksters, who seek office for sell
fish purposes. Warren County
Times.
There can be no possible excuse
for the action of the Tennessee legis-
lature in voting themselves a bonus
salary of $3.50 on the pretext of ex-
nenses and stenographic and clerical
help. 1t is simply a case of body
of men placing their own interests
above that Of the state.
This action will dig the taxpayers
Of Tennessee to the tune of 100000,
and it was done by men pledged to
economy in state government.
Members of the legislature knew
when they announced for office what
the salary would be and none of
them were drafted for duty. III the
salary was SO low they could not
serve, then the thing for them to- do
was to stay out Of the races and
leave such service to be performed
by other and more worthy men.
Trainers of the constitution sought
to prevent such raids and forms Of
graft as this when they placed the
conarensaticn Of legislative members
at s4 per day. But it appears that
body Of men composed Of type who
have only " desire to serve them
selves can find a way to defeat such
provisions. Such action is simply
graft and the people pay. Spring
field Herald.