The Forrest City times., 1894-08-03
TOTE AGAINST AMENDMENT
 NO. {.

| mltCluX " tne peVPic UNDERSTANDINGS amendment No. 4, which it is said will save the state and county few paltry dollars. And this is no doubt true. But the fact that the liberties of the people will be correspondingly curtail- ed, is not mentioned.
 Q The question then, Is, will we, for the sake of few paltry dollars, vote away our liberties, and make the gov- ernor supreme dictator in the prem ises.
 l Following are few of the many ex- pressions of the state Press against this snare and delusion, and we take 1t that they represent the views of the people in their respective sections. THE TIMES endorses every one of them:
 We don't believe in giving one man, even though he be the governor of the State of Arkansas, the power given by this amendment. And though special elections may, and do, cost the people some money, they had as well spend it in selecting their officers as to allow it spent for something else in which they have no interest. The people will vote down amendment No. 4.-Van Buren Venture.
 Amendment No. 4. makes it possible for tine Governor to become supreme dictator in state politics. It would place all the county and township off, ces at the disposal of court house ring. and court house rings are most generally corrupt and nearly every county in the state has one of them. The only security of the people against bare-faced fraud and daylight robbery is the free American privilege of elect ing officers to serve them and execute the laws, and relinquish this right, the evils of one-man power will surely fol- low. Amendment No. 4, will never be adopted by the people of this great state. Be sure to cast your vote against it.-Hardy Herald.
 Amendment No. 4, proposes to do away with special elections and to cloth the governor with authority to fill all vacancies by appointment. This proposition strikes us as move ment backward rather than forward, aud one which we think the people will reject almost unanimously. Are the people ready to return to the odious and detestable practices that marked the reconstruction period I-practices that ignored the will of rights of citizens and substituted the authority of the dictator? The peo- pie should not give mp the privilege of special elections. 1t is true these elec- tions add considerable to the expense of the state, but it is a short sighted policy, d contracted view of economy, that would surrender the right of fill- ing vacancies by election, simply to de- 1 duct few dollars from the expense account.-J0hns0n County Herald. The doing away with special elections will, 1t is true, save the state little ex- pense, but gives too much power into the hands of the governor and furnish IS too great an opportunity for schem ing politicians to get in ther work Jonesboro Times.
 It is d fact which none will dispute. that should the governor have power to fill vacancies, he would consult one or perhaps two men in county, and their dictation would be fiual, because in nine cases out of ten, no one would question it, although the appointment might have been made great deal more satisfactory. Deliver us from the one-man power or the dictation of the scheming politician who hasno re- spect for the wishes of others and no concern except for his personal aggran- dizement.
 We are always willing to abide the will of the majority of our party, and have confidence in their good judgment When left to make selection upon their own responsibility, the masses seldom fail to name competent, de serving citizens for all vacancies in pub lie offices. When left to other sources, the man most unfit for the position is too often recommended and appointed. Shall we vote away our rights on this flimsy pretext? Nol Let us vote against amendment No. 1, and not be deceived by the great bugbear, Econo- my Economy