Changes

= Background =

= Background =

McMinn County, Tennessee, lies between the cities of Chattanooga and Knoxville, in southeastern Tennessee. Its two main towns are Athens (the county seat) and Etowah. As of the 1940 census, it had a population of 30,781 people.

McMinn County, Tennessee, lies between the cities of [[Chattanooga]] and [[Knoxville]], in southeastern Tennessee. Its two main towns are Athens (the county seat) and Etowah. As of the 1940 census, it had a population of 30,781 people.

The following Presidential election results might or might not be significant.<ref name=Leip>Leip D, ''Atlas of U.S. Presidential Election Results.'' Retrieved 1 August 2018. <https://uselectionatlas.org/RESULTS/></ref> Franklin Delano Roosevelt did not carry McMinn County in 1932 or 1936. But he did carry the county in 1940 and 1944. He did so by lopsided margins  that completely “flipped” in 1948.

The following [[President]]ial election results might or might not be significant.<ref name=Leip>Leip D, ''Atlas of U.S. Presidential Election Results.'' Retrieved 1 August 2018. <https://uselectionatlas.org/RESULTS/></ref> [[Franklin Delano Roosevelt]] did not carry McMinn County in 1932 or 1936. But he did carry the county in 1940 and 1944. He did so by lopsided margins  that completely “flipped” in 1948.

The only other Democrats who have carried McMinn County were Woodrow Wilson in 1912 and Jimmy Carter in 1976. These two did not carry McMinn County by the lopsided margins FDR enjoyed in 1940 and 1944. (Indeed, Wilson did not even have a majority.) In every other election, McMinn County has voted Republican.

The only other [[Democratic Party|Democrats]] who have carried McMinn County were [[Woodrow Wilson]] in 1912 and [[Jimmy Carter]] in 1976. These two did not carry McMinn County by the lopsided margins FDR enjoyed in 1940 and 1944. (Indeed, Wilson did not even have a majority.) In every other election, McMinn County has voted [[Republican Party|Republican]].

== The Paul Cantrell machine ==

== The Paul Cantrell machine ==

These election results likely represent the influence of Paul Cantrell and the political machine he built.<ref name=ConstSoc>The Constitution Society, The Battle of Athens. Retrieved 1 August 2018. <http://constitution.org/mil/tn/batathen.htm></ref> In 1932, Paul Cantrell, of Etowah, Tennessee, and his wealthy relatives took advantage of the economic devastation of the Great Depression. They backed FDR and the New Deal and worked hard to replace Republicans in county government. They succeeded. Paul Cantrell became Sheriff of McMinn County in 1936, and won re-election in 1938 and 1940. The Constitution Society describes his margins of victory as “slim.” But the sudden landslide victories of FDR in 1940 and 1944 suggest that might not have applied to the 1940 election. In 1942, Cantrell sought and won election and re-election to the State Senate. His chief deputy, Pat Mansfield, ran for Sheriff in those two elections and won each time.

These election results likely represent the influence of Paul Cantrell and the political machine he built.<ref name=ConstSoc>The Constitution Society, "The Battle of Athens." Retrieved 1 August 2018. <http://constitution.org/mil/tn/batathen.htm></ref> In 1932, Paul Cantrell, of Etowah, Tennessee, and his wealthy relatives took advantage of the economic devastation of the [[Great Depression]]. They backed FDR and the [[New Deal]] and worked hard to replace Republicans in county government. They succeeded. Paul Cantrell became Sheriff of McMinn County in 1936, and won re-election in 1938 and 1940. The Constitution Society describes his margins of victory as “slim.” But the sudden landslide victories of FDR in 1940 and 1944 suggest that might not have applied to the 1940 election. In 1942, Cantrell sought and won election and re-election to the State Senate. His chief deputy, Pat Mansfield, ran for Sheriff in those two elections and won each time.

The Cantrells and their allies took steps to cement their control.<ref>Natural News Blogs, “1946 Battle of Athens, Tennessee, and its Importance Today.” Retrieved 1 August 2018. <https://www.naturalnewsblogs.com/1946-battle-athens-tennessee-importance-today/></ref> In 1941, Cantrell machine operative George Woods proposed “An Act to Redistrict McMinn County” in the Tennessee legislature. It reduced voting precincts from 23 to 12 and reduced Justices of the Peace from 14 to 7. It passed, largely with the aid of the infamous machine of former Mayor E. H. Crump of Memphis, Tennessee. His machine controlled most of Tennessee, including the governor’s office and one of Tennessee’s U.S. senators.

The Cantrells and their allies took steps to cement their control.<ref>Natural News Blogs, “1946 Battle of Athens, Tennessee, and its Importance Today.” Retrieved 1 August 2018. <https://www.naturalnewsblogs.com/1946-battle-athens-tennessee-importance-today/></ref> In 1941, Cantrell machine operative and State Representative George Woods proposed “An Act to Redistrict McMinn County” in the Tennessee [[legislature]]. It reduced voting precincts from 23 to 12 and reduced [[Justice of the Peace|Justices of the Peace]] from 14 to 7. It passed, largely with the aid of the infamous machine of former Mayor E. H. Crump of [[Memphis]], Tennessee. His machine controlled most of Tennessee, including the governor’s office and one of Tennessee’s U.S. [[United States Senate|Senators]].

== Shakedowns and election fraud ==

== Shakedowns and election fraud ==

Sheriff Cantrell also benefited from laws that vested too much power in county sheriffs.<ref name=Seiber>Seiber L., “The Battle of Athens,” American Heritage. Retrieved 1 August 2018. <https://www.americanheritage.com/content/battle-athens></ref> The sheriff and his deputies received a fee for every arrest they made. So they would board cross-country buses, drag off sleepy passengers, charge them with public [[Alcoholic drinks|drunkenness]], and demand and receive ransoms, i.e., [[fine]]s, of $16.50 per person for their release.

Sheriff Cantrell also benefited from [[law]]s that vested too much power in county sheriffs.<ref name=Seiber>Seiber L., “The Battle of Athens,” American Heritage. Retrieved 1 August 2018. <https://www.americanheritage.com/content/battle-athens></ref> The sheriff and his deputies received a fee for every arrest they made. So they would board cross-country buses, drag off sleepy passengers, charge them with public [[Alcoholic drinks|drunkenness]], and demand and receive ransoms, i.e., [[fine]]s, of $16.50 per person for their release.

More lucrative were the kickbacks Cantrell and his deputies received from roadhouse owners. The deputies would let the roadhouses operate, but shake down less than influential patrons.

More lucrative were the kickbacks Cantrell and his deputies received from roadhouse owners. The deputies would let the roadhouses operate, but shake down less than influential patrons.

The county court, still under Republican control, ordered the county to purchase Print-O-Matic voting machines. Suspicion had long prevailed that Paul Cantrell had won election in 1936 by swapping out preloaded ballot boxes for the real ones. In response to the order, Mr. Woods introduced another bill to abolish the court. It, too, passed, and the county sold the voting machines.

The county [[court]], still under Republican control, ordered the county to purchase Print-O-Matic voting machines. Suspicion had long prevailed that Paul Cantrell had won election in 1936 by swapping out preloaded ballot boxes for the real ones. In response to the order, Mr. Woods introduced another bill to abolish the court. It, too, passed, and the county sold the voting machines.

Outraged citizens petitioned the federal government for oversight of the elections in 1940, 1942, and 1944. The Department of Justice turned a deaf institutional ear. Recall again: FDR carried McMinn County by sudden landslides in 1940 and 1944.

Outraged citizens petitioned the federal government for oversight of the elections in 1940, 1942, and 1944. The Department of Justice turned a deaf institutional ear. Recall again: FDR carried McMinn County by sudden landslides in 1940 and 1944.

At about 9:00 p.m., Bill White issued an ultimatum: surrender the ballot boxes, or suffer siege and attack. White confessed later that he fired the shot that started the battle. But the Mobile Federalist Society tells a different account. According to it, Mansfield’s deputies fired first. Three GI’s, trying to warn passers-by of the danger, suffered wounds.

At about 9:00 p.m., Bill White issued an ultimatum: surrender the ballot boxes, or suffer siege and attack. White confessed later that he fired the shot that started the battle. But the Mobile Federalist Society tells a different account. According to it, Mansfield’s deputies fired first. Three GI’s, trying to warn passers-by of the danger, suffered wounds.

Firing waxed and waned for two hours. During this time, George Woods tried to summon aid from Birch Biggs of Polk County. Biggs ran a machine even more brutal than Cantrell’s. But Biggs would not intervene. Broughton Biggs, Birch’s son, by one account yelled at Woods, “Do you think I’m crazy?” Woods, bearing the sting of that rebuff, slunk out of town.

Firing waxed and waned for two hours. During this time, George Woods tried to summon aid from Birch Biggs of Polk County. Biggs ran a machine even more brutal than Cantrell’s. But Biggs would not intervene. Broughton Biggs, Birch’s son, by one account yelled at Woods, “Do you think I’m crazy?” Woods, bearing the sting of that rebuff, slunk out of town &ndash; though exactly when he made his escape, no source makes clear.

Mansfield and Cantrell tried to get Governor McCord to mobilize the Tennessee National Guard. Whether McCord issued that order or not, accounts differ. But all agree that the Guard did not engage the veterans. The commandant of the Guard doubtless knew that the sympathies of his force would lie with the ex-GI’s. Why? Because these Guardsmen were ex-GI’s themselves.

 

Mansfield and Cantrell tried to get Governor McCord to mobilize the Tennessee [[National Guard]]. Whether McCord issued that order or not, accounts differ. But all agree that the Guard did not engage the veterans. The commandant of the Guard doubtless knew that the sympathies of his force would lie with the ex-GI’s. Why? Because these Guardsmen were ex-GI’s themselves.

The besiegers did not and could not know this, of course. Worse, they had no radios and thus could not co-ordinate their fire. The brick walls of the jail withstood the fusillade. And as any soldier knows, until the enemy surrenders, the battle, and the war, continues.

The besiegers did not and could not know this, of course. Worse, they had no radios and thus could not co-ordinate their fire. The brick walls of the jail withstood the fusillade. And as any soldier knows, until the enemy surrenders, the battle, and the war, continues.

As the siege dragged on, several soldiers made Molotov cocktails and threw them. These proved ineffective. But at 2:30 a.m., the veterans acquired dynamite. At this time, an ambulance made its way to the jail. The veterans let it pass, thinking it had come to evacuate the wounded. Instead it evacuated Paul Cantrell and Pat Mansfield. ''They had just abandoned their command.''

As the siege dragged on, several soldiers made [[Molotov cocktail]]s and threw them. These proved ineffective. But at 2:30 a.m., the veterans acquired [[dynamite]]. At this time, an [[ambulance]] made its way to the jail. The veterans let it pass, thinking it had come to evacuate the wounded. Instead it evacuated Paul Cantrell and Pat Mansfield. ''They had just abandoned their command.''

= The battle ends =

= The battle ends =

= Overwrought reporting =

= Overwrought reporting =

In a classic example of “[[fake news]],” ''The New York Times'' actually reported that the GI’s, or their sympathizers, had ''slain'' Sheriff Mansfield. Recall that in fact Mansfield and Cantrell had fled during the battle. In fact, the battle concluded with not a single fatality. (A report by one source, that Tom Gillespie had died of his wound, has no corroboration.)

In a classic example of “[[fake news]],” ''[[The New York Times]]'' actually reported that the GI’s, or their sympathizers, had ''slain'' Sheriff Mansfield. Recall that in fact Mansfield and Cantrell had fled during the battle. In fact, the battle concluded with not a single fatality. (A report by one source, that Tom Gillespie had died of his wound, has no corroboration.)

Knox Henry won election as sheriff. Pat Mansfield resigned his office on 4 August, effective immediately. Knox Henry took his place at once.

Knox Henry won election as sheriff. Pat Mansfield resigned his office on 4 August, effective immediately. Knox Henry took his place at once.

None of these things occurred as the movie depicts, of course. Nor does the movie depict any of the violent acts on the part of deputies. Perhaps the producers told this tame version of events to avoid lawsuits by any surviving members of the Cantrell, Mansfield, or Woods families.

None of these things occurred as the movie depicts, of course. Nor does the movie depict any of the violent acts on the part of deputies. Perhaps the producers told this tame version of events to avoid lawsuits by any surviving members of the Cantrell, Mansfield, or Woods families.

Hallmark Media did not re-release An American Story. But an organization called the American Movement uploaded the full movie to YouTube.<ref name=YouTube>Viewers can view it here. <https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6c-Dsg4X4Dk></ref>

Hallmark Media did not re-release ''An American Story.'' But an organization called the American Movement uploaded the full movie to YouTube.<ref name=YouTube>Viewers can view it here. <https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6c-Dsg4X4Dk></ref>

= Literary parallel =

= Literary parallel =

{{cquote|[We’re] not about to let any bleeding, profiteering, black market, double-time-for-overtime, Army-dodging, [unprintable] civilians have any say about it! They’ll do as they’re told, see? While us apes straighten things out!}}

{{cquote|[We’re] not about to let any bleeding, profiteering, black market, double-time-for-overtime, Army-dodging, [unprintable] civilians have any say about it! They’ll do as they’re told, see? While us apes straighten things out!}}

The behavior of Knox Henry and his fellow returnees in the power vacuum that followed their victory over the Cantrells, closely mirrors this attitude. This suggests that, had law and order collapsed totally, they might have acted similarly.

The behavior of Knox Henry and his fellow returnees in the power vacuum that followed their victory over the Cantrells, closely mirrors this attitude. This suggests that, had law and order collapsed totally, and without the high mutual respect between returnees and townspeople, they might have acted similarly.

Heinlein never once alludes to the Battle of Athens. But the results of his writing are about the same as though he had researched it himself.

Heinlein never once alludes to the Battle of Athens. But the results of his writing are about the same as though he had researched it himself.