The commercial. (Union City, Tenn.) 190?-193?, 1921-09-16
City Ticket.

The city ticket nominated last
Monday by the committee of sixteen
heretofore commissioned by a mass
meeting of citizons is headed by H.
T. Robinson, a man who has been a
citizen of Union City for more than
thirty years and is known and uni
versally esteemed. 1t is really not a
reflection upon any citizen to say
that Harry Robinson is one of the
very best men we have, well round
ed character, finely balanced judg-
ment, big and broad, generous but
not extravagant, sympathetic but not
easily deceived, religious but not
fanatic, and all in all, one of the
finest of Gods handicraft.
We can also say great many good
things about the business ability and
personal character of Luther An
drews, Harris Parks, Walker Kerr,
Tom Reynolds and Claude Lovelace
and not have to violate the spirit of
truth. We feel about the other fell
low like our late departed genius,
who, when tried for lunacy, made
the statement that the neglect of OPP
portunity had made him a total fall
ure, and hence he was ready to agree
with the jury to send him up.
But more to the purpose. we want
to discuss some issues. The commit
tee at its first meeting went on rec
ord favoring a policy of constructive
conservatism. There were no well
defined lines in this resolution,
but individually there was an ex-
preston from the members of the
committee.
Some of them spoke to the effect
that they wanted to see the affairs
of the city conducted on progressive
lines, but with conservative finan-
cial policy. One OF the members said
that with the present rate of taxa
tion Union City could have many
improvements without an
additional bond issue. Really the
words progressive-conserv came
together with the emphasis on the
That is about the best
way we can describe the proceedings
of that occasion.
Now, the next day after the ticket |
was named there were rumblings of
1t seems an impress |
sion had been made that the commit |
tee of sixteen had been committed to
a policy of ultra conservatism. So, |
as far as we have gone it looks like |
there is to be an issue in the cam
paign, and that issue is whether or
not Union City will have a bigger
bonded Indebtedness. Our idea in
taking the issue right from the bat
is in order that it may be settled at
the mass meeting on the first Monday
in October next. If the ticket named
Is opposing general increase in
the bonded Indebtedness of I'm
ion City that fact should be so
stated and then and there let the
mass melting of citizens thresh it out.
# then the mass meeting favors an
Increase in our bonded Indebtedness,
he only alternative is for the ticket
low named to withdraw and allow
he mass meeting to select ticket
,r go before the people in the regu-
ar way. If, on the other hand, the
mass meeting on the night of October
opposes an increase in our bonded
the ticket can go to the I
,eople with that kind of platform.
The original intention in proceed
ng with a committee of sixteen was
O eliminate factionalism in city pol
tics. The financial policy came UP
afterwards. Now, if the ticket is
elected with reference to both these
uestions there will be complica-
ions which may not be worked out
/ the mass meeting in October, and
We may be right where we started.
But for one, l want to be under
TODD. / don't believe Union City can
ford a bonded Indebtedness of half
million dollars to pave the streets
f Union City. 1t will take more
han that to do the work, if the work
) contracted on the basis of the
veatherford plans and estimates.
tut, call it half million dollar
Oh. That will amount to II per cent
( our total tax valuation.
/ don't know whether it would be
rise to have larger bonded indebt-
dness than we now have-$118,000
and a floating debt of 100000,
laking a total debt of approximate
= S150,000. am fully convinced of
ne thing, however. and it is that
ositively would not vote for a total
ebt at any one time of over $780,
90. That may be too much for I'm
IN City to carry. cannot agree with
1me that there is no limit to which,