The Forrest City times., 1905-10-27

or falsify that record. Joint per- sonal debates between democrats seeking nomi nations for the past 1 five years in Arkansas have been of such character as to greatly injure the good name of the state both at home and abroad, have done infinite damage to the party, and the democratic majority has been reduced from 10000 in the presidential election of 1896 to less than 20, ,000 in 1904. The only ef- feet of personal abuse is 10 array neighbor against neighbor and friend against friend, and 10 create bitter and bad feeling in every To- cality. It brings no benefit to the state and no happiness to the people.
 1 have received a number of let. ters from friends asking me to per- feet an organlzation in this con- test for the senate. An organiza tion, as l understand it, in modern methods, is to have headquarters, with a bureau of literature and a large number of clerks and sten- ographers and men to go out in the field and secure votes. Such an organization necessarily involves the expenditure of 8 large amount of money. 1 have never since I have been in the senate, made dollar at the practice of the law, by speculation, or in any way ex- cept the salary which the govern ment gives. and that has been ex- pended from year to year as it has been drawn. It has been paid for travelling expenses, hotel and board bills, for the education of my children, for churches and schoolhouses, for friends and rela- tives who have claims upon me, for old confederate soldiers in dis. tress, and for many other char ities.
 l have never accepted free passes from railroads, nor have the railroads ever given me mileage or other tickets; but 1 have always paid my railroad fare, and for all of these reasons have no money to perfect an organization and would not spend it that way if 1 had. 1 have never had any man to work tor me at the polls and never will; l have never hired newspaper to support mo and never will. 1 have never traded and trafficked in pol. itlcs and never entered into com. blnatlon with any man or agreed with him that l would support 1 hiih oi hio iiiobuS loi OHlCe, pro- vided that he would support me or my friends for another. 1 will never enter into any such agree ment with any mortal man or men. l have never cast vote or uttered a word that 1 did not believe was for the best interest of the great body of the people of Arkansas 1 have never Intentionally wronged any man either publicly or pri- va,ely. am deeply grateful to the people of the state for their long continued support and kind ness. l, of course, would regret to be defeated in race which in all human probability is the last that l will ever make for any office, but at the same time have never ap- pealed to the people for vindica- tion, never appealed to them for their support on personal grounds ot sympathy, and I say now if you believe another can serve you better it is your duty to elect him.
 If, however, you believe that, ty reason of my long experience and long service 1 can be of greater benefit to the state, then it will be great qualification to me to have the endorsement of the people of the state in which 1 have lived for so many years, and whom 1 have served to the best of my ability both in peace and in war. Very respectfully yours.
 JAMES H. BERRY.