The Van Buren press. [volume] (Van Buren, Ark.) 1859-1914, 1896-03-28
The 8 pea king.

The Speaking.
The Democratic candidates for gov
ernor spoke by previous arrangement in
the Circuit Court room last Wednesday |
the speaking was postponed till eve
ming to give our business men a chance
TO attend
Each candidate was allowed an hour
in which to define his standing and a
ten minutes rejoinder.
The speaking was led off by Hon. A.
Fl SEWER, of Miller county. promptly
at o clock. He declared himself in
favor Of the Improvement of the public
highways and proposed to advocate for
that purpose the use Of half mill from
the State sinking fund and one fourth
mill from the general fund.
He also stated that he favored the
adoption Of law adopting uniform
system of text books IN the State.
He favors submitting to a vote Of the
people the question of a new con
stitution.
He was very vehemently opposed to
the pistol toting business and favored
making the laws more stringent on the
subject.
On the question Of a Railroad Com
mission he stated that he Thought that
such commission would De unconstitu-
tional and favored the making Of laws
for the regulation Of railroads, while an
amendment Of the constitution author
izing such commission was pending.
He declared himself in favor Of the
free coinage Of gold and silver at ratio
Of 16 to for the product Of AMERICAN
MINss without waiting for international
agreement. He closed as the clock
struck g.
Mr.. Harrod, Of Pulaski county, was
then introduced by the chairman Of the
meeting, Mr.. Geo. R. Wood.
He devoted small part of his time to
State questions. First he fayors
reform school for Juvenile criminals.
On the question Of Railroad Com
mission he stated that he was strictly in
favor of one and tabOoed the idea Of it
| being unconstitutional. He declared
himself opposed to the calling Of a con
stitutiOnal convention and stated that
all necessary changes could be made by
amendments.
He then devoted the rest Of his time
to national issues, chiefly the financial
question.
He defined his Democracy as being of
| the kind that would acquiesce in the
decision Of the party conventions from
president to constable. This was in
cOntradistictiOn to Hon. d. W. Jones,
one Of his opponents, who he claimed
had openly stated that he would not
support the nominee of the National
Democratic Convention unless it
declared for free and unlimited coinage
Of silver at 10 to l.
Mr.. Harrod stated his position on the
financial question to be strictly for the
free coinage of silver at IS to 1 without
waiEAg for foreign governments and
VARIED his hearers against believing
any charges against him that might be
made as to his being a gold bug.
] Col. Jones next took the floor and
proceeded at once to answer Mr.
Harrod charges as to his Democracy.
He stated that there were no differences
| between himself and Mr. Harrod as
concerned state question, except that
he thought that a Railroad Commission
would not be constitutional.
In regard to the charge that he would
not support the nominee Of the Demo
cratic National Convention, unless
silver man, he stated that, unless the
Democrats at Chicago next June adopted
a silver platform and silver candidate
for President, ne would not consider
himself bound by the convention, as he
could not consider it Democratic CON
vention if run by the sound money
Democrats short, he read all but
silver men out of the party. The
defense of his position on that question
was an able one and today vote will
show how it was received by its
hearers.
Only few words were spoken by
Mcssrs. SEWER and Hanod, when the
meeting 90 a few minutes after II
adjourned. The speaking was attent
lively listened To- and but few left before
aii had finished