McNairy County independent. (Selmer, McNairy County, Tenn.) 1902-1969, 1922-10-13
Peay,s Keynote Speech Is Strong
Plea for Economy and Lower Taxes
Democratic Nominee Is Accorded Great
Reception at Murfreesboro When
He Opens His Campaign.
BY T. H. ALEXANDER

AAAt tLO SNshipoi5h loi 6Of vi Sh'
nessee, has caused wave OF Peay
sentiment which the Democrats clsipl
will develop into a landslide in No.
vember.
Thousands of letters from the rank
and file OF the Democratic party and
hundreds from Republicans today are
literally deluging JOS. w. Byrns of
Nashville, chairman of the Democratic
state committee They are endorse.
ments of the strong stand of the Dem.
ocratic nominee on lower taxes and
economy In the state government and
requests for copies Of the speech which
Democrats jubilantly declare ranks
with the greatest campaign pronounce-
ments OF Isham G. Harris, Andrew
Jackson and the great Tennessee
statesmen of the past.
In his opening speech Mr.. Peay is
delivering today in East Tennessee,
the candidate for goveTnorship. reaf-
firmed his pledge to save at least ST.
100000 to the taxpayers cs the state,
and stated his views boldly and une.
quiyocally on the reorganization of the
state highway department and the
state tax department. The speaker re-
stated his views ON many important
questions, among them beingthe eight
per cent interest law, which he op-
poses; the repeal Of the sliding scale
as a method Of fixing the tax rate;
economy In state government; com.
plete abolishment OF the back tax sys.
tcm and his promise to sign no bond
hi urh fx&1
provide that the bonds must be first
approved by vote OF the people.
Mr.. Peay was heard at hfs opening
speech by large and enthusiastic
crowd, Jesse G. Beesley, state man
ager in the primary of one of Mr.
Peay's opponents. presided.
Taxation the Big Issue.
While Mr.. Peay's speech covered
completely every issue of the cam
paign, the nominee made taxation and
ecsnomy in state government the para
mount issues of the caninaign
The The land tax Kin in Ter bath, BATH S,, has /, in !,
lars In the last four Cusdeclared
Mr.. Peay. "and most Y mis- amount
has fallen on the farnAe dAy home is
among the farmers, per- know theil
burdens and the init of the pres
ent taxes"
The speaker called attention to the
fact that the merchant and the manu-
facurer can compute their tax and pass
the charge on 10 the consumer, but tht
farmer cannot. Therefore | say that
the land tax must be reduced, and that
1t is the urgent problem of the hour,
said Mr.. Peay.
And the remedy, he said, is first the
repeal of the sliding scale. Then rate
of taxation must be fixed which, wher
applied to known assessments. viii re
duce the land tax.
when the sliding scale Is repealed,
said Mr.. Peay, Il shall promptly rec
ommend to the legislature the rates to
be levied for all special and genera
purposes of the state exactly as
promised the people, to the end thai
the land tax shall be reduced in the
amount promised, and more il posi-
ble."
Mr.. Peay said that one may theorize
ito his hearts content" but If taxes
are ever reduced this simple and prac
tical plan must be pursued.
How Expenses VIII Be Cut.
So the state may operate on it's re
duced income and also absorb the an
nually recurring deficit, Mr.. Peay
promised that his administrator
would Immediately eliminate useless
state offices. He maintained that more
that million dollars can be thus
saved without impairing the efficiency
OF the state government at all.
Mr.. Peay told the cheering audience
that he knew he would meet with fiery
opposition in this course, but he pre-
ferre6 that his policy be known SC
that none may be taken unawares.
Discussing the state office.holders
Mr.. Peay said that he had no bitter
ness in his heart because SO many OF
them opposed him in the primary
They were diligently exercising"
right to oppose him, he said. but b.
asked that they respect their primary
ohIigation to support the nominee
"and that they do not stand in tht
wav OF promise to the people,
Each of them who does not rendel
an indispensable service to the pub
lie should promptly arrange for othel
emnloyment in the event that an
elected in November" said Mr. Peay
| (Applause.)
REPRESENTATION Of Tax Department.
Mr.. Peay vigorously reaffirmed nj
view that the state tax department, a
now constituted, should be thorough.
reorganized. The speaker said he ha
carefully observed the workings Of tn
tax department, without any animu
| TO condemn 1t.
Land assessments under the viii
and spur OF this department have bee
raised bevond all reason" said MI
| Peay. "The operation has only shifte
i the tar burden to real estate. This d.
partment has shown no ingenuity 0
initiative in the assessment Of thos
classes OF intricate property wit
which local assessors are unfamiliar.
Mr.. Peay declared that there is a
evident tendency toward dictatorshi
and autocracy in this department
which is exceedingly offensive to tn
people" and that the proof is unmii
taxable that this Is a political tax d.
partment. He made 1t clear that he II
ierred to those In active charge OF tn
department and not advisory member
of the commission.
| Back Taxes Must Co.
| "The back tax system in its entiret
| must 60" said Mr.. Peay, with empn'
sis. aOur present system for the co
lection OF delinquent revenue throug
agents appointed by the comptroiit
must be promptly abolished. It mui
be extirpated, root and branch. T.
perience and public sentiment IN o.
rate has thoroughly condemned u