New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1890-07-30
THE ARKANSAS RING.
VIGOROUSLY ATTACKED BY THE UNION
LABOR AND REPUBLICAN PARTIES.
A FREE BALLOT AND A FAIR COUNT THE DOM;
NANr ISSUE IN THE CAMPAIGN.

FREE BALLOT AND A FAIR COUNT THE DoAk:
NANT ISSUE IN THE CAMPAIGN.
ypoM An OCCASIONAL CORRESPONDENT OF The rnrBUxn
Little Rock, Ark. July 26-The two Gubernatoria1
candidates in this state have completed one-hah OF
their ,tmping programme and the people OF Ar
kansas are awaking the conclusion that change has
come is abOut to come, over the political history
Of their state. The Farmers Alliance which In Ar
kansas bears the name OF the Union Labor Party
never knew how formidable it was, until under the
leadership OF Napoleon BOnaparte Fzer it Joined hands
with the Republicans and prepared To do battle with
the old regime Of dominant Bourbons
To the voter outside Of Arkansas who has watched
this states politics, nothing could be made to seem
preposcrous than the overthrow Of the ring that
since reconstruction, has defecraed the polls, mdcred
It's political opponents and characterized It's domino
ton generally with unabashed rascality. Yet the
at hand and for no other reason than that these
crimes have gone too long and too far.
one strong point that is brought ont by the frlcnds
Of honest government in this campaign. is the repu-
taton that the state has acquired abroad while these
lawlcss practices going on. This is fruitful
topic, for fhe states reputation is notorious The
murders Of Clayton, OF Benjamin, and of Wilson.
Parham and Ncsey nsue of which have been punished,
adde,i the theft OF ballot boxes, and the threats
against the lives Of public men, have given rise 10 an
opinion outside the state that in a community 50
entirely subject 10 the mastery OF depIdVH mel'
recognized fart since these crimes Became matters OK
public notoricy that regulations of Arkansas securi-
| ties were becoming increasingly difficult Money can
not be borrowed In Eastern markets. Bonds OF new
enterprises cannot be foatcd. Life insurance COM
panics in many instances declined TO take rlsks on
| public All this, naturally enough. deadened the
home market frightened Northern and Eastern capital
seeking investment ami increased the burdens OF tax
PAYERS and wOrlingmen alike.
! Meantime feeling has arisen against the men who
have caused the trouble The remonstrancc. feeble AZ
first, has grown bold during the two years OF Cove
crnor Eagle. rule. Eagle him self who is candidate
for reelection on the "straght"- e., Bourbon
ticket, obscure Baptist preacher until the ring
discovered his weakness and made him its executive
tool. Hughes who wanted the nomination two years
ago. the man who, while Governor shipped the
St1te d0uotfui nIn BY skilful
drilling OF election militia. carried the state oc'vr's,
men OF opposition killed, OF course. but tho
state was carried and with that victory Hughess term
Of Office was heightened two years Because Of his
entire unntneSs and incapacity, however, feeling
spang mp against him That resulted IN his defeat at the
nominating convention. and the substitution, IN his
place, OF Eagle. equally unfit but less brany
toll. Not 10 be disniayed, however Hughes SUBJ
sclncntly announced himself candidate for the
supreme Bench where he now sits.
IN his two years OF public life, Eagle has done
nothing to winch he his cosdjuorS point with
pride. unless it b. his rcSOlute efforts toward tho
I "A
entire subvcfsOn % the Will Of his masters, and his
complete aure improve the reputation OF the Stats
abroad. have served 10 strengthen the opposition that
/ has been referred 10 This opposition has become
! formidable. and il threatens omnous results at tls
september election.
The men who have rallied to the support OF Fzcr.
/ the Union Labor Republican candidate. Of threa
classes. one Of these j. made up of the Democrats
who possess courageous convictions, They are headed
by Professor Jane, Mitchell. Editor Of " The Arkan-
,a> Democrat a Of great ability and Democrat
Of honest motives. Through the column, Of h 5 paper
he las sNayed a powerful influence all times rising
in manly and disnihed protests against tic policy Of
the dominant element. That the Of Mchells
stamp will poll 1000 votes for Fizer is generally con-
ccdci be a low estimate.
The entire unity and aggrcssiycne>s f the Union
Labor party, whose candidate Fer i. contributes
other opening wedse TO the general split in tie I'D
party log With the Union Labor mon there are
thousands Of Republicans. closely allied in hind AMI
heart Fizcr /, stumpng the state >pcndidy. Crops
just at that point where the farmers can leave
them and 20 the towns To rally 10 their candi.
date, support. 1t every point wher' he has spoken
thus far ms reception Ia, been enthusiastic than
he had expected The Eagle faction i frightened.
Never before has il met with % determined and
mighty an opposition that formed by The united
agricultural interests OF the state the whole Repub-
hcan party and ne Split within It's own RAMS
He j. bright, Nhafpwiited man qucH at rePLtee
and dangerous al critical moments IN debate Eagle,
the contrary. !, one # the duh, SOW going sort.
lie j. IlhtcIatc. at times stupid. and never vouble
\ poorer dcbatcr never lived, ana nobory knows 1t
/ better than he
Thu. il WAS that Eagle. through obvious motives.
declined T. take the stump against Fizcr. lie did
through reasons Of SELF Preservation. lie pleaded all
sorts Of excuses. lie lcsred illness. But he
trivcd attend horseaccs and To visit hi, Office
day.
Flzer saw his opportunity and prohted by It. lie
challenged EAGLE At every crossroads. lie asked his
Bourbon opponent why he did not meet him In public
debate. lac tainted Eagle with cOwardicc lie dared
pcnentary cOnvicts under The horrible lease system
had been murdered In their chains Why the states
credit had Deprecated why Northern capital Stunned
the state and why the courts had become tainted with
the pollution Of crime against the suffrage
Then the people began 10 wonder why Eagle did
not respond. His reticence became matter OF COM
mcnt among his friends. they knew as well as
Easlc knew that his entrance into the heat Of an
active canvass would mean the loss Of many votes.
They knew equally we'll, though. that some heroic
measures wcre necessary. Finally. when no other
opportunity remained. :hc, ordered Eagle into the
field. and Eagle. in hi, blindness obcyed lie Is avoid
candidates meet results follow Invariably 10 tho
humiliation of the Bourbon chiefam.
The lines that drawn In this campaign are
peculiar thr state and its customs. Probably as
qua mons of National politics be referred 10. Fyer
and hi, pariisans stand for free ballot and a falr
count This l. their cry There i no tariff
under the that means much to the Union Labor
and Republican party IN Arkansas as me freedom o.
their election prrorativesa freedom they have been
pci,i ,tently denied heretofore. They are hopeful,
however that the Old day of intimidation Of fasfy-
ing the returns. and Of murder, are over. III they
II not. two years must capsc under ne o,d
regime. But the end OF Bourbon domination u
Arkansas must come, sooner or later