The log cabin Democrat., 1907-10-03
FROM A REPUBLICAN VIEWPOINT

However unjust and untrue may be its characterization of George w. Donaghey, there are several facts which cannot be denied in an editorial in last weeks State Re publican on the Arkansas state capitol. Says the Republican:
 "The new state capitol, or rath- CT a pile of masonry that repre- sents all there is of the new cap itol, stands at the foot of Fifth street ill Little Rock as monu ment to the incompetency and dis honesty of the Arkansas democra- cy. Not since the building was started eight years ago has there been any considerable lapse of time in which scandal has not hovered over it"
 "The fortunate contractors, the Republican goes on to say, "have stood In well with the capitol com- missioners, and much of the work that has been done on the building is not in conformity to the original specifications. It was contracted to build the capitol for little less than million dollars, but the leg islature of 1905 was asked to pass an additional appropriation of S8oo. GOO to complete the build ing About $2o,ooo in 'swag' was distributed among our demo- cratic law makers in order that this swindle might be perpetrated on the taxpayers. One man was landed in jail as result but our democratic governor pardoned him, and justly too, for why should one democrat languish in jail when his party officially countenances corruption much deeper and black CT than his own? Just at present the state capitol, that we have been waiting for during eight years, stands melancholy spectacle, roohess, Homeless and tenantless. The democratic administrations of Arkansas for eight years have not been able to complete the work. This is of course poor business ad- ministration. During the last twelve months the same firm that took the state capitol contract sev- eral years ago, has erected two buildings in Little Rock valued at three-quarters of million. But there were business men back of these latter enterprises, and not politicians.
 It is to be assumed, of course, that from the Republicans stand point everything with which the Democratic party has been con- nected is rotten. But what an swer can the party make to these charges?
 The state capitol scandal is not a party fault. Graft knows no party lines. The very situation with which Arkansas is today con- fronted exists in a form nagnihed a half dozen times in Pennsylvania, where only last week fourteen Re publican grafters were jailed for fraud in the construction of their capitol.
 But it is the business of the Dem ocratic party to put men ill office who beyond all doubt will effectu- ally stop this apparently endless game of graft which is being car ried on in the construction of our new capitol. And whatever is doae must be done within the ranks of the party itself. It ought not to be necessary to raise the hob-gob- lin of probable Republican success in order to frighteu the Democracy of Arkansas iuto doing what IS right.
 George ". Donaghey, who ac- cording to the State Republican is Ca monomaniac on the subject, " is the man who, almost single-hand- ed and alone, not only encompassed the defeat of the $500, ,ooo appro- priatlon in 1905, but also waged a relentless and successful war against the S3oo, 900 bill only a few nonths ago. If the people of Ar kansas represented by the Demo- cratic party want to end this in- feuitous corruption and robbery