The Van Buren press. [volume] (Van Buren, Ark.) 1859-1914, 1904-01-30
WOOD AND DAVIS.
The Two Candidates for the Governor,
ship Visit Crawford County.


Some weeks since posters were pnt
up all over town stating that Judge
Carroll D Wood and Governor Jeff
Davis would address the voters Of Craw-
ford couuty--on the 25th At Mulberry,
the Goth at Van Buren, and the 9th at
Chester Later the announcement WAS
made that there would be no joint speak
ing, the governor having made other
arrangements. We tried to find out
something positive in time for our last
issue, but no one here had been able to
get statement from the governor
whether he would consent TO meet
Judge Wood in this county. Monday
however, he and his lieutenant, j Y
Bonrland, put in their appearance At
the appointed place at Mulberry, where
they addressed, owing to the inclement
weather, a small audience Davis led
of and AZ soon as he had completed left
for his hotel, rs is his usual custom Il
crowd of his partisans following, not
having the manhood to hear his oppon
emit = rejoinder. Davis address WAS
along hs usual lines Of working on the
prejudices Of his adherents, while Judge
Wood, being compelled to consume u
portion OF his time In handling the
governor record without gloves, for
the purpose Of meeting his misstatp-
ments and charges, on the whole tried
to take on advanced ground and conduct
his canvass on a higher plane.
The two candidates arrived here
Tuesday morning and registered at the
Tsllman Hotel, where their personal
friends called on them and after brenk
fast they we're taken around and intro
duced to our citizens Hon Berkeley
Neal and Attorney J R. Brown acted
AS chaperones for Mr.. Wood, while
Messrs G, b Fontaine and A l. Ratter.
rec performed like Office for JEFF Davis
Mr.. Woods followers were supplied
with badges printed on red silk an
nouncng the wearers adherence TO the
Wood cause and IL was not long before
there WAS a generous display of them
On the streets
The court house had been heated mp
tor the purpose Of having the speaking
there, but before the honr arrived it
became evident that au error had been
made by not securing more commodious
quarters for the seating capacity NJ well
as standing room Of the circuit court
room was taxed to its utmost, overflow.
Ing into the Railways and then many
left being unable TO get within reach
Of the speakers voices,
Hon, Berkeley Neal acted ss chair.
man Of the meeting aud at l.30 called
1t to order, Introducing In n few sp.
propriate words Judge Wood as the first
speaker Not many OF our people had
ever met the Judge, until his visit on
this occasion and there was general
traniug OF necks to get u glimpse of
him The Jadge lacks the nuency in
stump speaking that oharacterizes his
opponent, who has been campaigning
constantly since his Rrst race for attor.
ney-general Of the state, and which has
given him plenty Of practice, but he Is
81 earnest In his address that he carries
the hearers with him
He began his address by stating /,
was his aim to conduct the campaign
along n higher plane And eschew person.
alities, hoping the governor would do
likewise, though expressing but little
hopes OF such action, and reserving III.
teen minutes Tor rejoinder should his
hopes not 10 realized, he paid hs re