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About Last Week's Cover

To illustrate our story speculating on the proverbial "12 White Men" reputed to run this town, we chose to run pictures of a dozen conservative-looking white men as representative of the motif. We happened to find these shots in a tattered yearbook-style volume called Men Of Affairs In Knoxville, 1917. We didn't identify these fellows with the stiff collars because we used them only symbolically. They weren't necessarily the 12 most powerful men in their own day; it fact they had nothing in common with the "12 White Men" of 2003 except for the fact that several of them were members of Cherokee Country Club. But we've gotten so many queries about who the hell they are, that we feel obliged to share what little we know.

The jolly-looking mustachioed guy in the middle of the top row may be the one best known in 2003, thanks to his house. That's J. Allen Smith, the flour tycoon, himself. Proceeding in a clockwise fashion, we have J.M. Rule, executive of Whittle Trunk & Bag Co.; Judge Will D. Wright, U.S. district attorney and Knox County chancellor, co-founder of Cherokee Country Club; Jesse L. Henson, Republican Party leader and Knox County Court Clerk; Professor Monroe Wilson, superintendent of rural and suburban schools in Knox County; George Callahan, president of Callahan Construction; John H. Frantz, co-founder of the still-robust law firm of Frantz, McConnell, & Seymour; Oliver Perry Sterling, executive of the wholesale firm of Sterling-Crumbliss Hardware; insurance executive Michael French Flenniken; banker W.S. Shields, who donated Shields-Watkins field, on which Neyland Stadium sits; Rev. George Stuart, pastor of Church Street Methodist; and Dr. Len Broughton, pastor of First Baptist and author (Is Preparedness For War Unchristian?)

—The Editors

Hoodoo Infiltration

Radio talk show mentality dominates civil discourse. Opposing positions no longer convey their arguments in calm, rational, voices. Reason has been replaced by slander and defamation of character.

I saw this first hand while standing on a corner in front of West Town Mall recently (my first time) exercising my uniquely American constitutional duty to question my government, to demand accountability. In a government of the people, for the people, and by the people, I share responsibility for its actions.

A young man infiltrated our small group brandishing a hand-lettered sign that said: "down with Jesus, worship Satan." When approached, he stated we should, "worship Bush," and that he had a constitutional right to say whatever he wanted. The suggestion that his counter protest would be civil if he changed his sign to wording that stated he supported the president was met with him shouting into open car windows: "worship Satan." He agreed it was indeed his goal to make us look as bad as possible.

Mall security supported this young man's movement while making sure the rest of us did not step one foot off the sidewalk onto the grass. It seems to me that security's purpose would be to prevent altercation rather than encourage it. Boldly implying that one is a Satanist certainly inflames a desire to defend one's self.

Chuck Janack
Knoxville

Look to Luke

Your [Oct. 30] cover story, "Do 12 White Men Run Knoxville" is a topic I've really been concerned about because of the city's slow progress.�

I am from Chattanooga where there are black and white city councilmen, judges, the police chief, and there are so many other areas of progress too numerous to name.

But, it wasn't always this way. These things came about as the result of unity, dedication, and perseverance on the part of citizens (black, white, rich, and poor) to make a model city.

A leader needs more than money to lead successfully. September 11 is a good example of how powerful money is.

All races of people from all walks of life died, together, on that day. No amount of money could have saved any one of them.

As you stated, too few people, here, are willing to step up and challenge the direction their leaders are taking them because they feel their voices cannot be heard. They were heard in the recent mayoral election, and can be heard again if they continue in faith and determination.

Philippians 4:13 says, "I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me." And, as for the powerful and rich, read Luke 18:25. I rest my case.

Sylvia Cook
Knoxville

Dubious Dozen

Regarding your [Oct. 30] story on "The 12 White Guys Who Run Knoxville": It takes 12?

Jack Mauro
Knoxville