The Daily Texarkanian., 1898-04-01
A MISTAKE

TOT a ctCuuu lCluli Soul ulplhNuNa hlt"
stint, among other things
the following language
to the bold
and manly stand he took in be-
half OF the state in the contest
for a settlement with the Fed
eral government OF what is
known as the Mickeliohn a
mendmeut, whereby ii was pro.
posed 10 transfer TO the rail-
roads extensive tracts of land
that had already been disposed
of by previous contract. This
proposition Governor Jones sue
cessfully fought through a.
gainst a majority of the legisla.
ture and our entire COMPRESSION
al delegation. OF such stun,
governors are not often made.
The World had not thought 1to
again advert to Governor Jones and
his acts. Even now, no very good
thing may be accomplished by doing
so, inasmuch as he is to have no op-
position for the empty honor OF a
second term, a courtesy the Demo.
cratic party has invariably extend
ed to even the meanest of its bene'
when sought. But when a
careful and conscientious journal as
the Arkansas City Journal is, in its
blind adhesion to an unopposed par
ty candidate, goes so far as to COM
mend the Governors action with
reference to the settlement Of the
long standing account between the
State and the Federal government,
pronouncing it "a bold and manly
stand in behalf of the state, it does
seem that the truth of history
should be indicated. The facts are
that at the very close Of the session
of Congress which had the settle
ment matter under consideration,
when every moment was precious
and when the odds and ends of inn
portant legislation had to be put
through,-at such a time as this,
Governor Jones, taking "a bold and
manly stand in behalf Of his own
puny and misshapen political am0l-
tions, appealed to Boss Reed, whose
tyraunies had been more completely
exposed by members of the Arkan-
sas delegation in Congress than
through any other agency, not to
permit consideration of the settle
ment question, as public sentiment
in Arkansas was overwhelmingly
and unalterably opposed to it. The
big Republican Speaker was glad OF
an opportunity to have one less
matter for consideration, although
it is extremely probable the matter
would not have come up in any
event. What was the sequel? The
Legislature of Arkansas, despite
the personal appeals of Dan Jones;
in the face of the argument, persis-
tently and earnestly employed by
many interested statesmen, that
the settlement had been dictated
by a railroad corporation and would
work irreparable wrong to the pee
pie, "the common people, that it
was a steal of the most enormous
magnitude Legislature, de-
spite all these things, endorsed the
terms of the settlement oven the
Governors veto. Thus we have on
one side, the entire Arkansas dele
CATION in Congress, the Arkansas
legislature, three-fourths of the
Arkansas press, and, If it could oe
put to the test, an overwhelming
majority of the people Of Arkansas
irrespective of party affiliations,
and on the other side Dan Jones and
a few schemIng politicians. II the
Arkansas City Journal could have
been present during the sitting OF
the last Legislature it would have
learned that no citizen of Arkansas
was as utterly without influence
with the legislature and with the
people alike, as Dan Jones. He wa
then, as he is now, regarded as Il
very weak brother, courteous and
pleasant gentleman in his outward
relations, but a cheap place-huntel
nevertheless, with no standing
among the thoughtful men OF his
party. He was elected Governor on
a false issue, he has sought to win
public favor ever since by raising
false issues, and when he retires
from office he will sink into merited
obscurity. Truly, as the Journal
SAYS, "of such stuff governors are
not often made. Helena World.
" ~, ~. - fr,r. ,,.