The Van Buren press., 1903-03-14
The Note aud the Beam.

Tor the toliV"lHS eAtaSS ~ NHpPS" '
our last issue:
Be it said to the credit OF Captain
Monroe that after considering the mat
ter he refused to abide by the conditions
OF the compact aud voted according to
the dictates OF his conscience. But to
think of the cowardliness Of = man who
who would compel m old man in poor
health, au Old Confederate, TO so
numiiate himself. This should be
enough to forever damn Davis with all
fair-minded people.
The Commercial goes on to say;
Usually, among grasping politicians,
it is regarded that "all's fair in
politics - We will not subscribe to this
as whole, of course, but what is sauce
for the goose ought to be IN equal liquid
luxury to the gander These remarks
are made because Of the breaks OF The
VAN buren, PRESS anent the "agree
ment'' of Gov. Davis and Auditor
Monroe in the last campaign.
The Investigation before the ways
and means committee Of the house
brought out the facts rs CLEANED from
the papers, that Gov. Davis had been
informed that Auditor Monroe in sly,
il not peculiar way. was doing his best
to defeat him in his county during the
campaign of 1902. The governor was
like the auditor, candidate for re-
election Naturally, speaking in II
political way, Governor Davis was not
only surprised but chagrined to hear
this, because it seems from what wit
nesses testified that whilst Monroe had
verbally told Davis he WAS his friend,
he was, in fact, as alleged, working
against him. Then Davis called a
halt. He wished to know whether
Monroe would in future support him or
not. For this reason he drew up an
greement it seems, and Monroe signed
1t Of his own free tcM and accord. IL he was
honest in signing this agreement he
should have been equally honest In
standing by It, Davis carried out his
part of the agreement and did not put
candidate against Monroe, and the
latter was elected and saved thousands
of dollars by not having the ill-will and
another candidate--a jeff Davis candi-
date for auditor.
We do not endorse the agreement
plan Of Auditor Monroe, He should
have been more manly and refused to
sign the agreement, - but having
agreed to do what was asked Of him. he
should have been man enough to stand
mp to the rack. His after conduct is
unparalleled, and he deserves to be
relegated forever and forever,
But the Van Buren PRESS condonas
the conduct Of Auditor Monroe most
vociierousy whilst scathing Governor
Davis. That is not fair.
THE Commercial continues In this
strain to the extent of a column or
more, but space forbids us copying any
more of the etfusion.
In order that our readers may know
our reason for the few lines which nave
caused the editor Of THE Commercial
auch heartsche, we publish the whole Of
the matter pertaining thereto as clipped
from the Little Rock Gazette, being
that papers report Of the proceedings
of the investigation,
Now, fer the benefit Of our friend
Newman we will say we cannot see
wherein we vociferously cOndone the
conduct Of Capt Monroe In this matter
But we do give him credit for having
seen his error before he had gone too
far. The evidence went TO show that
Capt. Monroe was In poor health not
In condition financially TO CANVASS the
state. and Davis, knowing this, took
this undetermined means 10 force him
into signing an agreement TO purchase
any convict farm the governor might
choose II this does not deserve con.
domination we are willing 10 be consid.
cred IN the wrong, We do not say
Capt. Monroe did right in signing such
an agreement, but an inscriptions ad.
versary, AZ is Gov Davis, almost com.
pels his opponents to assume the same
tactics for defense,
But why were Col Newman and
Davis NO intensely interested that the
Althoimor farm should DO purchased
Ugly rumors regarding the latter
reason are common property,
The portion Of the investigation re-
ferring to II aud the agreement follows,
CAPT. MONROE FORCED TO SION THE AGREE.
MEST,
Col Murphy then took the witness,
He asked about the treatment of the
other members OF the board by the gov,
ernor after they had refused 10 join him
IN the purchase OF the Altheimer place,
Col Monroe said that It had been ds.
courteous IN the extreme, Before the
purchase Of the farm It had been his
first term In office,
Yes, the governor had tried 10 force
him into an agreement to join him IN
an agreement to purchase farm, Col,
Murphy asked Capt. Monroe to make a
stutpmput of the whoie Affair which be