The St. Louis Republic., 1902-04-06

With a strong opponent in the field against
him, he not only won his own fight. but
accomplished the defeat of one Of the great
est figures in American politics Although
not statesman. he is, nevertheless a smart
man.
Thought not an arator. his speeches are
vote getters He has the indescribable
faculty of using the charges made against
him to forward his own interests.
The fact that nearly every newspaper in
the State was against him made him thou
sands OF votes. The very fact of their
united opposition. their persistent serious
attacks on his public record and their great
mistake in bringing his personal character
istics and faults into the campaign caused
the rural element TO look upon him as
much prosecuted man. They charged him
with drunkenness. His answer was 'perse-
cution. They charged him with shooting
craps. His answer was persecution In
short, he was charged with so many Of
fenses. that it would take volumes to emu
merate them but the only effect they ap-
parently had was to draw the rural ele-
ment nearer him. Charges that would blast
any other man seemed only to make him
more popular, until his hold on the afrec-
tons of the poorer and uneducated classes
4A"S b'NOiit tlIlH5 " CduSt men 10 marvel
During the second month of the cam
paign / was with Governor Davis and his
opponent, Colonel E. w. Rector and had
many opportunities to study the formers
methods. No issues were discussed, no
questions of State were argued. The fol-
lowing instance will give the reader some
idea of the kind of campaign that has been
raging in Arkansas for the past few
months:
During the early part of February sew
erai speaking appointments were located in
the northern part OF the State, from thirty
TO forty miles rom a railroad. and were
made by the candidates and their friends
in two surveys, One day Governor Davis
oi his opponent, and the weather being
quite cold, he drew his chair close to the
stove. then drew up his trouser leg, os-
tensibly to get his limb nearer the heat,
but really to display a long pair of white
homespun socks. After he had succeeded
in attracting the attention of the farmers
standing around, he remarked: Boys these
are the kind OF socks wear. Wait till Col
Snei ON Rector , comes in, and if he pulls up
1t should be explained that the most seri-
GUS charge against Colonel Rector was that
he is a gentleman. and, therefore not 'one
OF the plain people
Clark n Statesman
James p. Clark, the victor in the sen.
atorial fight. though perhaps not as much
a statesman as Senator Jones. is a man
Of great brain ai power power has strong charac
State. Time and experience will doubtless
develop him.
He has been accredited with broader
views on national questions than those of
Senator Jones. In truth. he can hardly be
said to belong to the Bryan wing of the
party, though a good Democrat In has
always had his support.
When he announced himself as a candi-
date for the Senate. Governor Davis. i'm
attacked Senator Jones throughout the
State. until about three months before the
election. when Colonel e. w. Rector of
Hot Springs announced himself a candi-
Colonel Rector. portly. dignifed and
genteel. a born orator and a splendid de-
as he entered 1t. without a stain on his
banner. without one charge against his
public record and none against his private
life. except that he is a gentleman. The
odds that he fought against were such as
few candidates are called upon to face.
Governor Davis is the strongest party man
out of seventy-fve counties in his first race
for the nomination. Besides this. no Gov
ernor of Arkansas was ever beaten for a
the railroad commission bill, which caused
a reduction Of freight rates. those interests
We're were naturally against him. Being the
rather of the antitrust law. he had no
frisnds among the corporations.
But with all these forces arrayed against
ernor Davis was compelled to withdraw to
some extent from the senatorial fight and
look after his own interest But he con-
tinued TO fight Senator Jones despite the
terrific arraignment he was receiving at
the hancs OF his opponent and the greater
part of the press of the State
Davis's Double Victory.
Election day saw him gain double vic
tory He will succeed himself as Governor
and his personal and political friend, James
Clark will sit In the United States
Things have come to that pass where 1t
eeheoves the Democratic party to clean its