The Russellville Democrat. [volume] (Russellville, Ark.) 1875-1898, 1884-08-07

people was James Potts. In 1874
We had what Is called the Brooks and
Baxter wax The democrats thought
'it necessary to defend Baxter for
governor and for that purpose shonl.
dered their arms and / was among
the rest. When we reached Little
Rock, james Potts was there, but be
had no gun; neither was be So polite
as to ask how the madam and chill
|iren were. No, he walked the streets
with plug hat and kid gloves on
land generally was found on the enc
mics side. AS to his official record
| it has been one long line Of plumbers.
The first thing he did after he took
charge OF the office was to issue
$4l2.50 Of scrip that had already
been issued"
He ais, told how by Potts negii-
gence one Barber of Carroll county
escaped punishment. Continuing he
said: "He also fails to keep up the
records OF the courts. By some
means he gets Judge Cunningham
to sign them in blank so that he can
fill them out at his leisure when he
Is not electionecring One OF his
plumbers was most surprised at
was his opening and publishing the
result OF the late school election in
open violation Of the law. Even il
he didn't know any better than to
open them he might have kept them
out of the paper with his name stuck
to it. One Of his grossest errors
was made in his last financial report
in which he puts as liabilities Of the
county some $4,000 Of scrip which
!, was cancelled long ago. Mr.. Rey-
nolds and myself went to the Office
and investigated the books and
found TO our own satisfaction that 1t
was Potts that made the error. / will
detain you no longer at present.
Thank you for your kind and polite
attention"
JAMES POTTS SPEECH.
Fellow citizens oil Liberty township:
l am before you as a candidate for
County clerk Of Pope county, subject
TO the action Of the democratic party
but not an object of charity. / can
see no honor in one man assalling
the character Of another, but when
one is attacked he must make de-
tense and leave it to an enlightened
public whether he stands justified
or not
The reason the school election re-
turns we're made public were because
the majority of them were returned
to me by mail and l had no way of
ascertaining what they we're until |
opened them. II there was any vio-
lation Of the law in that | stand
guilty and ready to receive punish
ment The gravest charge he makes
is in regard to that Fowler matter.
Mr.. Fowler hired me to help him as
he had right to do and just as Mr..
Quinn has right to hire Emmett
White. Now sir, he says | was NOR
ally responsible for that Ubiquitous
collection, | say / was not. Fowler
was sued for the recovery OF 1854
due the county. in the circuit court
as he told you. Perhaps some may
ask why his bondsmen did not pay
this. Why sir, the legislature OF
1881 passed an act retrieving uuem
from all responsibility forever. To
arraign me about this shows he
wants votes very bad. Why didn't
he bring these charges against me
on the last canvass? That is what
is inexpiicable to me (Here he
tried to get Mr.. Bayliss to take a
book which he refused). Gentle
men yesterday he took this book
like fish will take a worm. ! tell
you i am incompetent to have the
office if this is the way to keep the
books. In looking over this book I
find something over $4,000 on the
debtor column and no credit given,
and oveI $4,000 unsettled consta-
bles accounts. | want to know If
these things are paid. The books
don't show it. Here is all of this in
his own hand write and If he will
prove by this book that any of this
is settled, then | will quit the race.
This hard fight is being made to de-
feat the ven.ilating Of this looseness,
but gentlemen it has got to be
Strengthened. Mr.. Bergman is an
honorable man and M. Bayliss
would be if he had an opportunity, /
am sorr;; he has got himself IN this
predicament, so are his friends.
The clerks Office is in good condi
ton and will be as long as it is in
my hands, l have attended to my
own business and no one elses. /
saw fit to do what conceived TO be
right, / selected my own deputy, he
has proved efficient and intend to
stand BY him.
There was an open discussion then
for some time betwixt Messrs. Potts,
McCracken and Reynolds, after
which Potts said: "My office is open
and l want it investigated. / de-
mand it and it shall be done, | in
tend to stand exonorated"
BAYLIss' REJoINDER.
Gentlemen, all this sentimental
tom foolery is ridiculous, / don't say
| never made a mistake, no man can
say that. AS to the constables &C
counts, say there is not q constable