The log cabin Democrat., 1907-10-10
DONAGHEY'S OPENING ADDRESS
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 however, is what we have been doing with large portion of them for the paat ten years. This unbusinesslike method IS more apparent to the practical observ- CT when he sees that for these same con. victs the men who are hiring them from the state have only to tell the state where to send the convicts in order tc make clear profit for themselves oi from SIPS to SI. so per day on each con yict hired from the state.
 l would be glad to remove convict la Dor from any form of competition with free labor. The nearest approach we can make of reaching an end to thi: competition IS to work all of the con victs on the public roads, except a small number kept on the farm to raise crops sufficient to furnish supplies to the con victs at work on the roads, thereby mak ing them self-sustaining.
 Good Roads.
 Before I ever thought of running for any office, l gave my practical adher- ence to the good roads movement. have attended the good roads conven- tions held for the past few years in our state, and have the honor of being on the executive committee of this associa- ton. As far back as ten years ago I rendered my services to my county with out pay for the purpose of building few of the best grade of dirt roads to serve as object lessons. Many of my fellow citi- zens worked faithfully with me to ac- complish this purpose, and we succeed ed so we'll that my county has continued to favor the good roads movement ever since. l shall do everything in my power consistent with the best interests of the taxpayers to advance the interests of this movement, if l become your governor.
 Railroads.
 The regulation of our railroads pre- sents many practical questions of great importance. That the railroads have in the past, as general rule, acted very much as if the people belonged to them, there is no doubt. That they have been guilty of much that is high handed can not be disputed. Furthermore, that they have maintained powerful and paid lob byists at the doors and in the halls of our legislatures none will deny. And more than fair compensation for their services can be shown by their own rec ords.
 If elected governor, propose to see that the railroads, like every body else, shall obey the laws. When they show a willingness to do better we should see that they are not unnecessarily hampered. Railways are public highways, the real control of which is in the public, and the franchise to operate which the pub lie has granted to certain corporations. Since the control is in the public, the public has rights which must be respect ed, and since the franchise is granted to corporations, the public granting the franchise must deal squarely by the / holders. Railroads are essential to our civilization. We cannot do without them any more than they can do with out us. In Arkansas we need more roads, better roads and more equipment. Every passenger coach is filled with people and there is scarcely half enough freight cars to haul the products of our com merce. Our resources cannot be made available without them. Provoked by the bad relations of the past 1t is easy to join in hue and cry that would in jure the roads we have and discourage the building of others. This would greatly retard us. The railroads must "behave" themselves and to get the best efficiency the public must give them a square deal when they merit it.
 Railroads and all other public service corporations owe two duties to the state: one is to bear their fair share of the bur- den of taxation and the other is to give the people the very best service possi- ble. Every int~lligent man in the state knows that we are not getting the best service possible, but, on the contrary we know that the service could hardly be poorer than 1t is. Every fair minded man will concede that the people are entitled to be transported with prompt ness and with safety, and to have their freight hauled promptly. For more than year now the merchants, manufactur- CTS and shippers of every kind have Lad their business practically paralyzed by delayed shipments and scarcity of cars. This condition has grown to be intoler- able. Bushes men are having to aban- don their shops, and farm products of ten rot before transportation facilities cand be had with which to mark ct them The great timber interests, the coal in dustries and the hay business cannot be maintained, much less properly devel oped, If this situation Is to remain un changed.
 But the poor service of the railroads is responsible for something of far great CT importance than dollars and cents. mean the danger of the travelling public and the constant peril to the lives oi railroad employees. It has come to thi: point in this state that a railroad em- ploye absolutely risks his life every hour he is engaged in his daily employ ment. Scarcely a day goes by thai some railroad accident involving loss o life is not reported. Of course, many such accidents are not reported at all ,ol if reported, many of the facts are con cealed. These accidents, SO dangerous to the travelling public, and which de stroy so many lives of ra lroad employees are due in nine cases out of ten, not to the negligence of railroad employes, but to defective tracks, rotten ties, brok CT rails and wornout equipment. The wig dance of the engineer and fireman, the faithfulness and efficiency of the con