The anti-monopolist. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1874-1878, 1874-11-26
the ARKANSAS MEDLEY.
Judge Poland's OPinions.-Pl0ts and
Counter Plots..It Is a Good Thing
smith Has Run AWay.-The B0x.
Textbooks Contest Continued.

Arkansas affairs, Judge Wiltshire, mem
Der of Congress elect from the Little
Rock district. and Col. Hynes, present
member from that district, arrived here
yesterday. and several interviews with
them are published, hut they differ in
some material respects.
In one account Judge Poland is as
serted to have said that the Garland
governn-e nt, recently elected. is trying
to act fairly, and Garland. although not
possessed of very great moral force him
self and being surrounded by strong
element Of perhaps a vicious sort,
is irving to do we'll. The Baxter fac
ton sustains the Garland government,
while the Brooks men sustain Lieut..
Gov. Smith.
The programme Of the Brooks party
evidently is in event of the federal
government favoring Smith and seating
him in the gubernatorial chair, to press
the Brooks Baxter suit, which IS pend
ing in court. IN hope
Of reseatins Brooks as the
legally elected Governor. If
however, Smith is seated as Governor
by federal force he will have to be
maintained there by the same power;
but Judge Poland does not think such
action will be taken.
Smith, he says, is no more Governor
than Baxter was and he thinks the au.
thority of the latter was gained
by fraud. Smith is fire-brand
and for his sake and for the
sake Of the State it is good
thing he has fed. His claims to the
governorship are worthless, nd there
is little likelihood e their
being made to appear Of any value to
the President.
Another says Judge Poland asserts
that although both Baxter and Brooks
have disappeared from the political
arena, yet the question now at issue is
which Of them was elected Governor IN
1872.
The new constitution, Poland says,
was conceived and adopted in very
irregular manner. The old constitu-
ton provided for amendments and pre-
scribed no manner for their adoption.
No power was designated to the
General Assembly of the State
to submit the question to
the people, whether or not they would
hold constitutional convention. Thus
it appears that the action of the Ar.
kansas legislature in the premises was
without authority and wholly irregu-
lar.
A parellei case to this Mr.. Poland
finds in the celebrated Dorr rebellion
in Rhode Jslord quarter OF century
ago.
The hopes and ambition Of Smith
rest upon the illegality of this constr
tuition.
Baxter, with 1t. Gov. Smith and the
whole radical ticket Of 1872 we're elect
ed for four years. less than one-half Of
which time they had served when the
late election held under the new
constitution this fall provided
their present successors. In
case the new constitution
should be declared invalid, of course
the present State government would no
longer exercise the duties at present in
cumbent upon it. and the question
would recur to the election Of 1872, as
between the Brooks and Baxter candi-
dates.
Touching this matter, Judge Poland
freely expresses the conviction that
Brooks received a large majority Of
the votes cast. The testimony
taken before the Congressional COM
mittee plainly indicates this. and it is
rendered still more probable in Mr.. Po-
lands view. by the fast that the De-
mocracy voted almost unanimously
for Brooks as against Baxter.
Of the prospects for an early settle
ment Of the question, Judge Poland
does not speak in q very
hopeful manner. He regards
The issue affecting the validity
Of the new constitution as one Of very
grave importance. and inasmuch as it
is strictly legal question. he gives no
opinion whatever respecting it.
The Judge also said the testimony be
fore his committee was about conclud-
ed, but people seemed to have . greater
feeling of security with such body in
their midst and asked earnestly for its
retention. He had. therefore,
appointed Hon. J. D. Ward . sub
committee and left him at Little Rock.
with Sergeant-at-Arms and = reporter.
He win doubtless find something to oc-
cupy his time and attention.
Judge Poland has gone to Washing
ton At call Of Attorney General Viii
iams.