Pine Bluff daily graphic. (Pine Bluff, Ark.) 1893-1942, 1894-03-14
,SH4Lk WE HAZE 4
STRAIGHT TIGkET2

y IhHILHI IIthEI !.
We notice with regret that our
esteemed weekly contemporary, the
Press Eagle, comes out in its last
issue in opposition to the PROPOSE
ton for a straight Democratic ticket
for this county at the ensuing cleo
ton. In its advocacy of a eompro-
mise ticket ON existing lines we do
not believe that the Press Eagle
voices the sentiments of a majority
of the Democratic voters Of Jet1er-
son county.
Our esteemed contemporary says
that We are not aware Of any com
plant about the administration Of
the offices filled by Republicans, who
two years ago We're earnestly
solicited and fsallY induced TO acz
cept Democratic Endorsement for
those Offices, under lie terms Of the
revised Compromise. Has cur
esteemed contemporary heard gen
eral complaint from those who nave
business with the Circuit Clerk S
office a the demorulized condition of
the valuable public records Kept in
that office? What, indeed, must be
the Impressions of foreign capital.
list who makes Investments in this
community when he walks into the
Circuit Clerks Office to have his
deeds recorded or to investigate the
records in that office. Would itnot
be far better to have competent.
intelligent white man in that office
than incompetent, half-lettcrcd
negroes in charge Of the most valu-
able records in the county?
And does our contemporary UNI
dertake to say that there are not
Democrats in the county as com
petent to Gil the Sheriif's office rs
the present incumbent? What has
Sheriff Thompson ever done to
entitle him to such profound con
sideration at the hands of the Dem
oeratie party as to be the favored
minion of The party? He is neither
popular or carries strength among
his own partisans. Two years AGO,
when but an obscure country doc
tor, he was taken up, nominated and
elected by Democratic Votes. It is
d notorious fact that he added but
little, if any, strength to the ticket,
and was almost unanimously re-
pudiated by the Republican voters
of the county, The Democratic
party owes Sheriff Thompson no
debt of gratitude whatever, but ON
the other hand, he is indebted to the
Democracy of the county for the
Office he holds today. The GRAPHIC
has no i'll will for Sheriff Thompson.
Personally, he is a gentleman. and
has made very good officer,
but there are hundreds of Demo
Gratis in the county capable of filling
his position as satisfactorily and
creditably, and we can see no reason
why he should be retained in office
by the Democratic voters of the
county when there are so many life
long Democrats competent to fiji
the place.
And, again, if our contemporary
can see no good 10 be accomplished
by straight Democratic ticket. we
would inviteits attention to the Leg
islatore. Under the compromise Of
two years, AGO Jefferson county
had one white and two eo,orea rep
.resentatiyes in the Lower House Of
the Legislature With straight
ticket We would have three white
representatives IN that branch of
the Legislature men who would at
tract attention to aud reflect credit
upon their county whereas, here
tofore our colored representatives
have caused the county To be made
the objects Of the icers and jibes' of
the people throughout the State. II
there were no other considerations,
this alone should be sufficient 10
cause every Democrat IN the county
to favor a straight ticket
As to the possibility Of elseting d
straight Democratic ticket there can
be no doubt The Australian ballot
system and the poIl-tax amendment