The Forrest City times., 1897-01-22


 their re-enactment is not, in my opip- ion, a possibility. But even if should be mistaken in this forecast. I beg to suggest that when any party that desires to restore conditions that formerly existed, gains the power effective for this purpose, it will also have power sufficient to provide that the congressional election in this state shall be hald on the same day as that fixed for holding the election for state and county officers. Then under the doctrine of the United States su- preme court, the entire election will be subject to Federal supervision. The state and congressional elections are now held on the same day and by the same officers in several states. and among others 1 recall that this is the case in Oregon, Rhode Island, New Hampshire and Maine, and the fact that they are held separately in this state is due to congressional action, ! and not to any law of this state, as will appear from an examination of section 259S of Sandels X Hilrs Digest. If the law as there stated were not suspended by the act of congress of 1875. the two elections would be con- | Soiiudttu Ut tulS lllue lHluk l HiU in harmony with that element in our state politics that formerly resisted all efforts to affect this consolidation. and if conditions had not fundamentally changed, I would not make this recom- , mendation, nor would I now take any step that could, by possibility, operate to increase their annoyances. But we promised our sympathisers in other sections of the state that as soon as we could otherwise protect ourselves from the evils that then afflicted our section that we would unite with them in ridding them of the annoyance, and the people of the state of tho expense and annoyance of the additional cleo ton. I, for one, think that the time has arrived when this promise should be made good. Even with this change made, we will still have too many cleo tions
 Any system of election reform which does not include comprehensive scheme for primary elections, cannot be said to be complete. Any plan, to be of value, must contain provisions sufficiently in detail to guard against all probable errors or fraud, and to in- clude such penalties as will make it to the interest of those entrusted with the business of conducting such cleo tions to do so honestly and in fair con- pliance with the directions of the law. Suitable provision should also be made for contesting announced results be- lieved to be erroneous or fraudulent. Our present statute on the subject is ln- sufficient, as has been made apparent to all who have had occasion to take notice of the attempts to hold a primary i election under it. At the time it was submitted to me for approval, I dis l covered that it was but a crude and ] fragmentary attempt to accomplish the desired end. but my desile to familiar ize the public with the matter of hold l ing primary elections under legal re- ! straints was such that l permitted 1t to l be placed upon the statute books. be- i lieving that the general assembly would thereafter give the subject more comprehensive and intelligent treat ment.
 1 TRUSTS.
 Throughout the country there is be- ing aroused among fair-minded citi- zens, regardless of party affiliations or vocation, a movement for concerted and energetic action for the suppress sion of those nefarious commercial combinations known as trusts. Arkan- sas has suffered more than her share at the hands of these combinations. She ought to manifest a purpose to join promptly and vigorously in the crusade now being organized against their practices. It ought not to be necessary to say much in condemna- l tion of these institutions, for there is not a member of this general assembly whose interest has not suffered from the blight of their touch. They per wade and dominate every avenue of commerce, and have there abrogated the influence of supply and demand in | fixing the price of the articles they se- lect to operate upon. and in its stead | install the merciless decrees of q com bination that knows no motive except avarice. Under recent decisions of the supreme court of the United States, much that is required for their sup pression must come from state action and I take 1t for granted that you will not permit this session to come to a close until you have brought into requi- sition all the power lodged with you that can prove effectual for the pur- pose. Georgia and Texas, and perhaps other states, have quite recently passed statutes on the subject, from which you can get valuable suggestions in framing a statute.
 PRIZE-FIGHTING.
 I take it for granted that you will desire to do something in the way of making our laws for the suppression of priZe-fighting more effective, and to suspend and punish officers who connive at or promote their violation. | In relation to the first branch of this suggestion. l would say that if you en- counter any difficulty in framing d proper amendment, you will make some progress by directing that any l citizen. tMentX- -fnur hours in adYance