Newport weekly independent., 1903-05-22
uvvEROR DAVIS
 SEEKS THIRD TERM
Failure of Legislature to Acquit Him of High Crimes and Misdemean- ors In Office Responsible For His Candidacy Says Jeff,
 Who Asks Vindication
 From People


 Arkansas:
 Since the adjournment of the legis lature am daily in receipt of many communications from my friends throughout the state making inquiry as to my future political course, and that the matter may be definite ly settled and that they may be put upon guard, make thiu public state ment. When 1 was renominated for governor last June, had no thought or intention of ever asking the people of this state again for the office of governor; my only thought and ambi- tion was to serve them faithfully and we'll. Certain great questions had arisen during that campaign upon which the Democracy of Arkansas spoke in convention assembled, and which hoped would be forever set tied by the recent legislature, whose servants they were. looked forward with a great deal of pleasure and with great deal of hope that the wishes and will of the people would be carried out by that body, but to my utter amazement and surprise, the will of the people was stihed. They asked for bread and were given a stone. They asked for relief, and were scoffed at, and the vials of wrath of that body was turned loose upon me in the most unjust and merciless war fare that has ever been waged against a public officer in this or any other state. Charges involving my honor, the good name of my mother and father, my family, were preferred against me without the slightest pre- text, and hurled broadcast through the press of this nation. My impeach- ment was sought for high crimes and misdemeanors in office, price was placed upon my official head, and a deep-laid, well-considered, far reach ing scheme was entered into to ruin me and drag my family down to in fanny and shame. Yet when the legis- lature came to the crucial test, they didn't have she manhood or the conr- age to carry out their iniquitous schemes, but adopted report refer ring the whole matter to the people.
 Had they acquitted me before that body should not have asked you for re election to the office of governor, but since they have selected the peo- pie of this state as a jury to try and determine this issue, most willingly do leave it to you and accept the chal- lenge and to you I shall come when the proper time shall arrive with the facts, and shall ask you to nominate and elect me as your chief executive, shall ask you to acquit me of the vile charges that have been hurled against me. If can but call the old guard together again, and they will stand like Spartans as they have always done, I shall not fear the result. Twice you have borne me kindly and gently in your arms over this crowd of calumniators. To shrink from their blade now would be coWardly and unmanly; to fawn before my tra- ducers would be unjust to myself and my friends. l would want my chil- dren to forget my memory, and my body buried in the rude rougn sands of the sea, to be ever forgotten should l be guilty of such crimes.
 Therefore, my friends, say to you that am candidate for governor, and solicit most earnest and zealous support and ask that you stand guard from now until the primary shall end. If we can whip this political crowd once more l think victory will have been achieved for the people of this state. I am ready to make the fight Will you stand by me?
 Very respectfully, JEFF DAVIS.