Newport weekly independent., 1903-09-25
WOULD NOT RIDE
 WITH vANDEVBNTER.
Governor Davis Calls Upon Chrisp to State He Was in Danger During Investigation -Vandeventer Asks if Tom Johnson issa
 Carpet-Bagger.

Searcy, Sept. 19.-The thirty -sev- enth speech of the gubernatorial de- bate took place today at Mount Pis- gah, nine miles from this place. Gov. Davis and Mir. Vandeventerg were the only speakers. They reached the ground late. They got left at Higgin- son on account of the train Qbeing late from Little Rock. The governor re- fused to ride with Mir. Vandeventer and got another rig to come to Searcy in.
 Gov. Davis was introduced by ex Representative Armstrong as soon as he reached the grounds and had spo- ken for several minutes before MT. Vandeventer arrived. He read a let ter from s. A. Bonds of Logan county sergeant at arms of the last house, de- tailing how he caught representa- tive when the latter ran off to keep from voting on the anti trust meas ure. He called upon Col. R. w. Ohrisp to know if he did not think he (the governor) was in danger to some extent in the committee room while the investigation was going on, and Chrisp replied that he thought so, as far as Col. Murphy was concerned. The governor referred to the Hardy letter and only alluded to Judge Wood one or two times, and discussed points as heretofore. He wanted the crowd to help him whip his opponents at the ballot box, as he didn't intend to withdraw from the race, as had been published.
 Mr. Vandeventer began his speech by replying to what Davis had said about his not being invited here to speak, but said he had been invited to Center Hill, which was near, and thought all would welcome him. He referred to what he had said to Davis at other places and could repeat it if necessary, as he didn't intend to be within 444 votes of carrying Little Rock the other time he made the race and Franklin and Clay counties were stolen from him. He had been mixed up with Davis for long time, for his wife was Davis and he had met Da- wis a number of times, and also "Cy- clone" Davis of Texas, the noted Populist orator whom he debated with one time at Romance, and after the speeches the county went Democratic for the first time in fourteen years. He welcomed the Populists back into the Democratic fold, and said they had always been against any man for third term, which was good Democracy. The governor had ap- pointed Judge Baker, a Populist of this county, on the equalization board, but he tried to defeat lady from Prescott for position in the house on the ground that her deceased husband had been Populist, and which Hon. T. c. McRae said was untrue. He re- ferred to John II. Page as carpet bagger fro m Missouri.
 s'Tom Johnson, the man who is being mentioned as the Democratic nominee for president, is native oi Arkansas, but do not suppose the people up North will call him carpet | bagger from ArkansasP' said the speaker.
 Every inch of the ground was cov- cred by each speaker, and the crowd was very orderly and attentive. Gov Davis declared that Prof. Baker was his old school teacher and had been 8 Populist heretofore. The governor had fifteen ,linutes' rejoinder and il was nearly night when it closed. l