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10. Political Elections
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POLITICAL ELECTIONS 161 10 POLITICAL ELECTIONS Stories in this category are interesting and very informative. Of significant note is that the political division between Democrats and Republicans was and still is of major importance across the state, even between husbands and wives in some instances. Stories herein describe a man who campaigned in the wrong state, another who campaigned for Congress while drunk, and still another who was advised to identify himself as his opponent in order to obtain more votes. These accounts, regardless of the theme, tell us that political campaigns are very serious, but in some instances also humorous. One thing is for sure: political campaigns and elections will likely be the source of many more stories in forthcoming years. 195. “CAMPAIGNING FOR OFFICE IN WRONG STATE” Hughie Ragan, a lawyer, was campaigning for public service commissioner , a statewide office. Hughie had come back from his campaign travels and was explaining to one of the local lawyers here in Jackson, whom he routinely talked with, about where he had been during his campaign while riding on his motorcycle. And he said, “I got on my motorcycle this day up and around Bristol, and I went east and I went on out in there.” After about two or three minutes the lawyer said to him, “Hell, Hughie, you were campaigning in Virginia!” Hughie didn’t stop at the border. He just kept going seeking votes 162 Tales from Tennessee Lawyers for the Public Service Commission, and he never knew the difference. He didn’t know where the state line was, but that didn’t bother Hughie. David G. Hayes, Jackson, August 8, 2001 196. “UNCLE DAVE MACON HELPS YOUNG CANDIDATE” I knew Uncle Dave Macon, the old-time musician. This story is about him. It begins with a young war veteran from Lawrenceburg, Tennessee , who came back from the war. In 1948, he was running for Congress against an incumbent named Alex Brown [pseudonym]. Brown was absolutely a brilliant man, had a great educational background. Had gone to Princeton, or to Harvard or Yale Law School. But he had a serious drinking problem. Back in those days, people weren’t as familiar with their congressman as they are today. In reality, a congressman would send out calendars and garden seeds to their constituents. That way, he was pretty sure of being reelected. Well, because of Congressman Brown’s drinking problem, he was absent from Congress. And his opponent, this war veteran, was a young, vigorous, handsome young man. Uncle Dave Macon was traveling with this veteran, drawing crowds for him on courthouse squares. He picked the banjo. One day, Uncle Dave, with Sam and Kirk McGee, who were old-time fiddling brothers , were playing together. [Anywhere they played,] the veteran, who was running for office, would be in front of the crowd, and he’d call off such-and-such a bill and say, “Where’s Mr. Brown?” Uncle Dave would say, “He’s drunk!” Well, the young man won that election by, I believe, forty-eight votes. It was a tight election. William J. Peeler, Waverly, June 14, 2001 197. “HOW TO WIN A POLITICAL CAMPAIGN” There are a lot of Hughie Ragan stories around here. He was good friends with a local legendary lawyer, Carmack Murchison, whose son is still practicing law here in Jackson. Hughie was quite a famous criminal lawyer. Years ago, he ran for the Public Service Commission against Buck Avery, a man who was later a judge on the court of appeals. Hughie went in to see his friend Carmack one day and told him that he didn’t think his campaign against Avery was doing very well. [52.91.84.219] Project MUSE (2024-03-29 00:11 GMT) POLITICAL ELECTIONS 163 You’ve got to know, too, that Hughie wore coveralls and rode a motorcycle around while campaigning. Carmack said, “Well, I’ll tell you what I think you could do that will help your campaign.” Hughie said, “Well, what is that?” Carmack said to him, “Everywhere you go, tell people that your name is Buck Avery [his opponent’s name], and you’ll win this election .” [Laughter] Alan Highers, Jackson, August 8, 2001 198. “SWITCHING RELIGIOUS AND POLITICAL AFFILIATIONS” About 1963, I decided to run for a position on the school board. So I began to inquire as to how it is you run for the school board. And I found out you had to qualify to run for political...