The Covington leader. (Covington, Tenn.) 18??-current, 1922-10-26
Gov TAYLOR SPEAKS
TO TIPTONIANS
GOOD CROWD HEARS HIM HERE
TUESDAY
The Governor Defends His Record
and Says He VIII Win By Large
Majority = FavOrs Reorganization
of State Highway System and Re-
peal of Back Tax Laws-IntrO-
duced By Gen. John A. Upton.


Gov. Aft Taylor, Republican nomi-
nee for reelection, addressed the
voters of this county at the court
house Tuesday afternoon Every
seat in the courtroom was taken and
all the aisles were crowded. Many
people seeking admission to hear the
chief executive were turned away in
disappointment before the speaker
was presented to the audience.
The governor was presented to the
ldience by Gen. John A. Upton, one
OF the leading Democrats of this
county and a kinsman Of Gov. Tay-
Tor, Gen. Tiptons Introduction was
brief, in which he merely said that
he had the honor of presenting the
governor of Tennessee.
The speaker reviewed and defended
his record as chief executive of the
state for the past two years and
stated that he would be reelected by
even greater majority than he re-
ceiyed two years ago, when he swept
the state by plurality of 10000
votes over ex-Gov. Roberts, his
Democratic opponent.
The audience was composed of both
men and women voters, with few
colored voters occupying one section
of the courtroom His remarks, and
especially his illusions to his Demo
cratic brother, the late Senator Rob
ert L. Taylor, were loudly applauded
by the audience.
1.-TWO years ago was elected to the
exalted position of governor of Ten
nessee," said the governor. II made
certain promises to the people from
one end of the state to the other One
was that if ! was elected would ask
for the repeal of the back tax law. /
made a recommendation to this effect
in my message to the legislature and,
although law was introduced which
would hdave wiped it from the statute
books, the back tax lobby was too
powerful and this measure was de-
feated
"a law was passed which cut the
fees of the back tax collectors from
33 1-3 per cent. to Is per cent, and
while it was not what | had prom
Used, / signed it because | knew if it
failed Of passage we would go back
to the old vicious system, where the
state got little of the money collected
and the collectors most of it. |
signed it on the basissthat a quarter
loaf is better than no bread. My
competitor tries to charge me with
the responsibility of the entire back
tax system, which he can not well
do, as everyone knows.
81 have tried to make you coed
governor. When | started out 1t was
with the intention that Tennessee
should have one non-partisan gov
ernor. say to you today that, SO
help me God, no political question has
ever influenced me in any decision |
have made as your governor at any
time.
'tMy conception is that when a man
is elected governor he becomes the
governor of all the people, not Of a
group or party, but all of the people
Of the state. From that standpoint
/ have never varied"
Gov Taylor expressed confidence
that he would receive a good vote in
West Tennessee, He stated he would
receive a big majority in East Ten
nessee and get, at least, an even
break in other sections Of the state.
AT the conclusion of his speech
male quartette, composed Of the gov
ternor's three sons and one of their
companions, rendered several vocal
selections to the delight of the audi
ence. When this was over, Miss Ida
May Roberts, daughter of Mr.. K. G.
! Roberts, of this city, presented the
governor a bouquet Of red and white
roses, symbolizing the memorable
"Battle of the Roses" between Gov.
Taylor and Robert L, Taylor 36 years
ago, when these two brothers, as the
nominees of their respective parties,
stumped the state in joint debate for
governor. During that campaign
they visited Covington and debated,
as will be remembered by some of our
older citizens.
Gov. Taylor was entertained at
luncheon Tuesday BY DR.. and Mrs.
Il. Hill. He left on the evening train
for Memphis on his way to Nash
vile, having to return to that city
on important business, which forced
the governor to cancel his Memphis
speech.