Throckmorton P. Gildersleeve relates to a W.P.A. employment advisor the story of how he lost the mayorship of the town of Monotony and became a forgotten man: Jed Blower returned to his sixteen member hillbilly family with his business partner Gusty Mann, who convinces the family that they should play their mountain music on the radio. The family moves down the hill to Monotony, where their radio show brings in tourists and improves business for everyone. The Blowers refuse a chance to play in Nashville however, when they return to the mountain to feud with the Beagle family. In the meantime, Gildersleeve has been campaigning for mayor and expects to win, although he treats the townspeople and the residents of the poorhouse ruthlessly. After Gildersleeve thwarts store owner Lester Smoot's attempt to enter the campaign, Jed decides to run for Mayor when he realizes that this would improve his chance of marrying Belinda Watters, who has been pining for a balloonist since he left town years ago. The balloonist returns but does not remember Brenda, and when Jed ousts him, Belinda falls in love with him. The Blowers and the Beagles then call a truce so they can vote for Jed, and he wins by a landslide. The employment advisor decides to give Gildersleeve a job that he believes is perfect for him: as butler at the Monotony poorhouse, where Jed and Belinda marry.