The Van Buren press., 1901-12-07
Wanted His Influence.


Congressman Thomas McRae has
pulled his coat and entered the senator.
isl fight for somebody or some purpose,
most likely the latter.
In the first speech Of this campaign
Senator Jones, 1t seems, referred at
length to ex-Gov. Clarke's connection
with the claim of the Hudson IN. ~
National Bank against the state. and as
Congressman McRae had associated Mr..
Clarke with himself In the case, &C.
cording to the Little Rock Gazette g.
report, Senator Jones wrote Congress-
man McRae private letter stating to
him that there was no intention to at.
tack him.
This did not satisfy the congressman
and he replied to Senator Jones in a
long letter, which was read by ex-Gov.
Clarke In his speech at Lonoke. The
letter does not seem so much defense
Of Congressman McRae and ex-Gov,
Clarke for the action they had taken in
this claim against the state as it does u
defense of the bank claim. The letter
proves, to say the least Of 1t, that Con-
gresham McRae Is absolutely true to
his clients, and his letter cannot be con-
sidered in any other light than ~ an
earnest attempt to bolster up the claim
which the Arkansas Legislature, ex-Gov.
Fishback. Gov. Davis and nearly every
other prominent man In the state thinks
Ia unjust and fraudulent. The evident
purpose Of the writer IL to aid his client
more than to hurt Senator Jones or help
ex.Gov. Clarke. II he should succeed
in convincing tho people Of the state,
since he failed to convince the last legis.
lature, that the claim Is just and that In
refusing to allow 1t the legislature acted
dishonesty, house and senate would
be elected that would give his clients
the Hudson National Bank--what they
are not entitled to and what 1t Is not be-
lieved they can ever get, II the voice Of
the people is to control IN the matter.
But since Congressman McRae has
thrown himself into this claim Of this
national bank 10 prominently the Ques-
ton arises, How came he to be an at
torney IN the case2 He has been u
congressman for some ten or fifteen
years and everybody knows II has not
been the custom for congressman TO
take cases before the Arkansas legisla.
ture or the courts, Persons having
Legitimate claims, especially those as
large us the Hudson National Bank EN-.
ploy lawyers engaged In the business Of
law, and not congressman whose hands
are full with the duties of their Offices,
To the ordinary citizen, then, II looks
like Mr.. McRae was employed for his
influence A member Of congress and
man not engaged In the practice OF
law would necessarily have more In
fuence than the average lawyer, and
people Ike the managers Of u national
bank are shrewd enough 10 see this
point and take advantage OF Il. They
would naturally want man with the
greatest amount of influence In under
taking to collect claim that had been
asleep Tor thirty years and had been de-
clared fraudulent, THIS Inference may
be wrong, but we will leave Il to an In
telligent public II II Is not most natural
one under the circumstances.
But what other cases has this Arkan-
sas congressman had before the couris
or the Legislature and how came he 10
be employed IN shis one, are qucstions
the people would like 10 have answered
when they come to consider the defense
he makes Of his clients IN his letter to
Senator Jones.
Like ex-Gov. Clarke. this lawyer con-
greesman is using Republican methods,
Ever since the Fishback amendment 10
che constitution was agItated until
che present time the Republicans
throughout the country have charged
that tlls state Of Arkansas under Demo.
cratic rule had tepudiated its honest
debts congrcasuan McRac. Ia declar.
ing tint this national banks claim Il
Just spd that II " dishonest IN the state
a