The Springdale news., 1906-03-16
SENATOR BERRY SPEECH


 the Auditorium Thursday night at last week to hear Senator Berry Many ladles were or sent. aaf et4 spicious on the front seats were a number Of old Confederate soldiers who were there 10 do honor to one of their comrades in-armS. J. A. House of this place. was with Senator Berry at the battle of Corinth, Miss. and lost portion Of one hand at the same time the latter lost his leg.
 Senator Berry was introduced by Dr. John Young. township committee man, and for one hour and f0rty-tive minutes he had the undivided atten- tion of all The speech was on hi h plane throughout. There was no bit. terness. m abuse. It was such d speech as would naturally be expected from a man 0f Senator Berry's char aeter and exalted ideals, and 1t k but the simple truth to say It made pro- found impression upon all who heard 1t.
 The speech was along the same general lines as the one made at Fay etteville the first day of court last October, and which was reported in The News at that time, but some Of the main points may be of interest to reaaers of this paper.
 In opening be said that he was al- ways glad to meet the people of Wash ington County, for they had always given hlm their support ID the past, and he would regret exceedingly to learn that at this late day they could have cause to withdraw their conf. dence Referred to,the cOrrespOnd ence had with Gov. Davis some months ago relative to a joint canvass and stated that Gov Davis had made ap pointments without consulting him, notwithstanding his voluntary prom ise not to do so. He was opposed to the joint discussions of the character prevalent in Arkansas in recent years, as they created strife and discord, arraYing neighbor against neighb0r and friend against friend and he would not participate in them. He did not propose to discuss the public record of Gov. Davis. not that 1t was above criticism, but it was well known to the people of Arkansas, who were capable of judging and forming their own conclusions.
 Senator Berry said he would prefer to discuss some of the questions new before Congress which affects the in- terestS Of the people. but It was nec- essary for him to reply to the charges brought against him by Gov. Dayis He said the governor had had his sec reUary search the Congressional Rec ord for twenty years back. and out of the thousands of votes he had cast and the speeches he has made, found only two acts to crlticiSe. One was in connection With the debt settle ment between Arkansas and the gen. government. He stated that be was proud of his connection with that af- best interests of the state. When the question was pending in COngreS Gov Clark wrote to Congressman MeRae to call caucus of the Arkansas dele gation to decide what was the best course to pursue This vas done, and 1t was unanimously decided to try to secure the passage of the bIll and a letter was written to Gov. Clark to that effect The letter was signed by every member of the Arkansas delega- tion, including Sena tors and Congress. men. This was the letter Gov. Davis exhibited in Springdale and sought to create the impression that 1t was written by Senator Berry alone
 The other vote in Congress for which Gov. Davis had cenSured him was in connection with the Hatch anti-option bill, which puts tax on dealing in futures. He said that Senator George, of Mississippi, one of the greatest lawyers in the country, and large planter, was a member of the committee to which the bill was referred. After investigation it was his opinion that Congress had no power under the constitution to tax these institutions and he introd aced an amendment making it crime to deal Tn futures He said he agreed with Senator George, made speech in favor of the amendment and voted for it, and when 1t was defeated voted against the blll Said be did not want to legalize gambling by putting tax on it, ana believing the bill unconsti- tutional he could not support 1t. Re ferring to Gov. Davls' statement that he would vote for 1t, constitution or no constitution, he said that he had taken a solemn obligation to support the constitution, and no power on earth could make him violate bis obligation. He said he had ahtllhng1