Pine Bluff daily graphic., 1898-08-10
BELL ACCEPTS.
THE ACCEPTANCE.

 J. E. Boyce, Nj M. Bruce, A. B. Craig, E. P. Ladd, s. A. Levy, R. A. Ware and many others:
 Gentlemen:-
 have carefully read and consid- cred a petition signed by yourselves and several hundred other Demo- cratic citizens of Jefferson County calling upon me to become a candi- q ate for the office of Sheriff. and Tn respon SC thereto you will permit me first, to thank you for this high per sonal compliment, thence to make manifest my deep sense of apprecia- tion for the confidence you have expressed in my ability and fitness to serve the people Tn this important capacity.
 It is well known to all of you that I am at present endeavoring to serve the people of this Pine Bluff the chief city of your county, in the honorable position of Mayor, a trust. to which the good people have twice seen proper to elect me, and that I am not now nor have not been of my.own accord, an as- pirant for further political honors But when confronted by so large 8 petition of my true and tried fellow Democrats, comprising, as l believe, q majority sentiment of the entire Democracy of my county, and es- pecially of my home city, Pine Bluff, to become tke exponent and standard bearer Of q cause so just as 1 know theirs to be in this in- stance, am wholly constrained to give myself over as their servant to 0o with me as they deem best.
 The reasons given for Iyour call are fully stated in your petition which l take the liberty of making public, together with my reply thereto.
 l am well acquainted with all the persons whose names appear upon the petitions and have reasons to be lieye that they represent in numbers and in sentiment, the bone and sinew sf the Democracy of Jefferson county.
 You justly complain of very great wrong which has been perpe- trated upon our party by an at tempt to foist Mir. H. A. Mccoy on the people aa the Democratic nomi- nee for Sheriff.
 To rebuke this wrong and in or ter that fraud shall not be reward ed, my Democratic fellow citizens are urging me to cooperate with them and assist in the undertaking.
 Outside of those directly interested and who feed at the public crib" very few regard Mir Mccoy as the nominee of the Democracy. It is my belief that he was clearly defeated in both primary elections of the party, and that the endorsement of a proxied partisan committee could not breath into existence Q leg al nomination in his behalf.
 The means and methods resorted to in the accomplishment of this moral crime are too fresh in the minds of 8ll to require more than a passing reference to it now.
 If Democracy stands for anything 1t stands for honesty and for fair dealing, and like yourselves, 1 am un- willing to place a premium upon vice, or fall sdown and worship at the feet of those who would put stab after stab into the rights of honest, loving, loyal people of this or any other county.
 For these and other reasons I ac- cept your call and announce myself candidate for the office of Sheriff of Jefferson county.
 From the magnitude Of your peti- tions and the great number of Demo- crats who have otherwise pledged me their support, upon the theory  that no Democrat is obligated in any manner to take notice of MT McCoy's claim to nomination by the party, I have no doubt oi my election to this office by an over whelming majority.
 It has been said by some people that while this is true, I will be "counted out" and my election taken from the people. hardly think that the Democrats of our county are in frame of mind to submit to shch q thing. lfattempted. l congratulate you and our peo- pie on your bold stand for a rule by the people and for your expressed determination to strike down cleo tion frauds and other wrong doing in our county, and for your band ing together for the purpose of plac- ing tbe office of sheriff into the |