Pine Bluff daily graphic., 1905-07-13


Editor Arkansas Democrat: had
thought that would make no reply
to whatever Governor Davis might
say at Conway until the proper time
came to open the canvass but it may
be that if 7 let it pass then some cne
who does not know me and does not
know Governor Davis might conclude,
if I do not correct it. that his state
ments in regard to my record are
true.
"Some of the statements are utter
y without foundation iG fact, some
are directly cantrary to the facts,
and all of them are stated in such
way as to carry an impression which
is not true.
Blanket Primary Resolution.
"The first statement that I care
to notice in his speech is in regard
to the resolution passed at Hot
Springs for a blanket primary. Gov
erncr Davis said. as reported in the
Gazette. and 7 noticed at the time
when it came up for adoption Senator
Berry and the entire delegation from
Benton county left the convention
hail. Now I have a letter in my pos
session written to me by Governor
Davis less than two weeks age, In
which he saws in speeking of this res
olution at Hot Springs that assisted
in passing it, He now says | left the
convention hall when ii came I'D for
adopticn and neither statement is
true. did not assist. as stated in his
letter. in passing the resolution, and
neither nor the Benton county del
eeation left the convention hall when
it came up fer adoption, as stated in
his speech. BY reason of serious
accident which bad occurred to enc of
my children. 7 left Hot SPRINGS be-
fore the resolution was ever reported
to the convention considered or pass
ed and 7 never saw or heard Of it I'M
til the day after the convention ed
jcurned. when I saw it in the news
papers. The entire Benton county
delegation except Mr.. Lon Nance left
Hot Springs the night before the reso-
luton was reported to the coaven-
ton Mr.. Nance was too sick next
day to go to the convention hall. and
there was no member of the BENTON
county delegation ever in the hall at
ter the resolution was reported by
the committee. and at the time Gov
ernor Davis says he noticed them
leave the hall.
'sThe newspapers. both at Hot
Springs and Little Rock at the time
stated that I had left for home before
the resolution was ever reported, ana
thought that every man in attend
ance at the convention knew it,
Federal Aid for Roads.
"Again Gcovernor Davis, in speak
ing of the Latimer Good Roads bill,
says in his speech at Conway, Sen
atcr Berry would not support the Lat
inner bill which was to aid in the con-
struction of good roads, because he
said it was unconstitutional. The
T.atimer Good Reads bill was never
voted upon in the senate. 1t was new
er discussed as I remember except
Senator Latimer made a speech at
the time he introduced it. I never
spoke one word in regard to it in the
senate. never said that I was cp-
POSED to it and never said it was un-
Upon the contrary,
the only speech that I ever made IN
regard to good reads was at Texar-
kama last April to good roads con-
yention and there I distinctly said
was in favor OF the federal govern
ment granting aid to the states to
help in building roads. I also said
that I preferred the bill introduced
by Judge Maddox of Georgia tc' all
other bills now pending in congress
in regard to good reads because that
bill gave the government money direct
ly tc the states to be expended by
the state upon the roads and wanted
state officials and not government oiti-
cials to have charge of the roads in
Arkansas.
'Just why the governor or any
other man should make a statement
Of the kind accredited to him in a
public speech | am unable to under
stand.
The Hatch and George 6i''s.
"Aeain Governor Davis. in speaking
of the Hatch bill. which was consid,
cred in the senate some twelve or
thirteen years ago, fails to say that
the contest was between the Hatch
bill. which was a bill to tax dealing
in futures and thereby leealize the
practice. and a substitute bill report