The Van Buren press., 1899-09-23
Davis and Yandeyenter.

From the springdale News.
As per previous announcement Hon.
jeff Davis. at present attorney general
of Arkansas and candidate for governor,
addressed the people at the opera house
Tuesday evening. Late IN the after
noon telegram was received from Hon.
A. F. Vandeventer, of Morrilton, also
candidate for governor. announcing
that he would be present to take part in
the discussion. So instead of a one
sided affair, as many expected, 1t was
made more interesting by joint dis
eussion.
Davis spoke first for one hour, follow
ed by Mr.. Yandeventer in an hour and
a quarter, and the Attorney General
closed the discussion with twenty-five
minute rejoinder. The people of North
west Arkansas have heard much OF Mr..
Davis, and most of it has not been of a
nature very complimentary to that
gentleman. Those who went out to hear
him Tuesday evening went there pre-
iudiced against him. and they came
away more firmly convinced than ever,
il such a thing were possible, that he is
not safe man for public Office, and
especially for the exalted position of
chief executive of the state. Although
| apprehend there is no danger of such
a thing coming to pass, it is my honest
nevertheless. that the election
of JEFF Davis to the position of governor
would be one of the greatest calamities
that could befall the state. | say this
without any ill-feeling for Mr.. Davis,
for personally found him to be very
pleasant gentleman. But it is his acts
while he has held the position of attor-
ney general and his general demeanor
throughout his canvass that has con-
vinced me that he is lacking in every
element essential to the proper discharge
of the duties Of the Office which he is
seeking His entire speech was strange
intermingling of vituperation abuse and
Inconsistencies. He apparently has no
respect for himself, his hearers or the
office which he holds. Iu speaking of
the judges of the supreme court, the
highest tribunal in the state of Arkansas,
he referred to them as five asses
He said he could take 50. so and change
the policy of either the Arkansas
Gazette or the Little Rock Demo
crat. - and scored the press generally.
He appears to be at outs with everybody
and everything in Little Rock, especially
Gov. Jones and ssOld man Mitchell, .
of the Little Rock Democrat. - He
says there is a systematic effort on to
boycott him down there. but he is a
hard shell Baptist weight 240 pounds =
and proposes to stay with them. 1t is
evidently his motive to try and arouse
the sympathy of the country people in
the hope that they will vote for him, but
they have too much sense to be taken in
by such cheap demagogy.
Mr.. Vandeventer was speaker of the
last House of Representatives He gives
evidence of being gentleman, and his
speech was dignified and at times
eloquent He showed up some of the
doings of Mr.. Davis, but he did so in
clear language and genteel manner.
He produced evidence showing that Mr..
Davis fancied boycott by Little Rock
people amounted to nothing, and that
while he was out over the state making
speeches his duties as attorney general
were being neglected.
Summing it all up, l doubt fany good
is done to any one by these discussions.
On the contrary cannot help but be-
lieve they will be detrimental to the
Democracy by furnishing the Republi-
cans with ammunition with which to
fight the party during the campaign
next year. 1t is entirely too early to
begin the campaign, and no votes will
be made by either gentleman. Mr..
Vandeventer should go home and not
dignity the utterances of Mr.. Davis by
attempting to reply to them.