The Monticellonian., 1908-02-27
Senator Davis Speech.

Mir crairman. Gentlemen and Fellow Citizens
 It affords me Erelt pleasure te meet the good pI apie Of Franklin county this pCca- sion and counsel with them as to the fuudamvu- tai principles gf stBte government Tor Whlch we have fought hard and earnestly for the past six years in Arkansas.
 The gallant democracy Of this county has always been most kind and generous to me. and this magnificent audience of the old guard who have always helped me in every time of need, Is il compliment of whleh any man might we'll be proud. and bears azsaHaaee 10 the fnet that the people of This great state are deeply interested in the proper administration of her public affairs.
 don | come 10 you my friends fin the spirit of dietatian-I don't come tO you the metropolitan press Of this state wonld have you believe. in e14rt tO control or influence your better judgment. but I feel that it is always the duty Of every public servant t1 counsel and advise with his friends en all public questions, and for that purpose, and that alone l come to you today.
 great complaint is going up. fellow-citi- Eens. from certain quarters against my having come back home and meeting and speaking to you in this campaign. This complaint. how ever, Is made by lhe men who said that if JeR Davis we're sent to the United States senate, he would disgrace the state. They now insist that l should retain my seat in the senate while they undermine the princi- ples of government for which we have all contended
 On the other hand. the who gave me their suffrage and support In my race for the senate are anxious that I should come hack and see to 1t that the agents of corporate wealth and syndicate interests should not con trol and dominate politics in Arkansas.
 An. Ar. Chairman. and gentlemen. they say that I should not raise my voice in the inter est of NH. Kirby for governor; they say that this k iutermeddlng ng-that this Is Hter0piHg that the result of his election does not euH- cern me. On one hand. gentlemen and fellow citizrus, they charge Nil. Kirby with being the JeG Davis candidate. they brand him with what tHey consider ta be stigma. and hY hey lHUe tD man n Arkansas against him then when l raisr my voice and ask ms friends to rally to lis assistaHee, t9 his support the subsidized press If this state would raise its hands lh holy horror, and say, You Wedaug in state polltics-it Is none of your fight
 Ah.. uy rrtruds I hope the day vii never come in Arkansas when the welfare of the people ef ms uatRc state shall cease to con cerH me. when the cause of the people and good goSrnmeut will not elicit my most earn est eHdeayor-my very best efforts,
 want to say to my friends throughout the state of Arkansas that ". r. Kirby is the only candidate in this race for governor who has ever been my personal or political friend. l want to say to ny friends that he Is the only candidate in the race who would carry out the policies and principles Of E9S Sefnneht which l have inaugurHted, and which yet hope to see succeed, despite the efforts Of the despoilers.
 state that he is the only candidate in the race for governor who is really and truly the friend of the common people of the state
 l want 10 say to the people of the state that William r. Kirby is an honest, clean. pure. courageous man, that will make Arkansas one of the best governors that ever occupied the executive chair.
 You say. What has he done since he has been Attorney Genefalts All. my friends time will not permit that shauld give 10 You paeh and every important otieiai net of his life but suffice Il to say that when the state house vampires tried to get their long bony fingers into the state treasury and take rf,a fff 1a ta al state Kirby said No. - and the doors of the vaults were closed, and the money is safe. The Supreme Court sustained him
 When the last legislature passed the bucket shop law which l had the honor tn write II WIS ridicuied and derdcd by the lawyers Of Little Rock and by the opposition in the house and in the senate. the wiseaeres of our cApl- tai city said that that law was so defective that they could drive wagon and team through it. The great Western Union Iele- graph Company attacked this law In the fedeIal Court of our state. and W. r. Kirby, single, handed and alone, stood our mouthplece ana as onr advocate. and the first decision that was ever rendered by the Federal Court Tn favor of the people of Arkansas on the statutes of eur own state was rendered in this suit. and w F Kirby was the only lawyer represent ing our interests. An my friends, ts that worth nothing? Does this not appeal to the toiling masses of the people?
 He has been faithful h every trust, and II elected To this high office. he will see 10 II that the stock gamblers are kept out Of ArkahsAsi
  iHtated and properly cnforced' he will see to 1t that the poor conyets oil our convict farm who are now being whipped and driven t9 death are kindly and humanely treated. and last but not least my fellow citizens he will stand as the watchdog at the door of the treasury and see that the peopies fuhds nre not footed and disSipated.
 Lot every sober minded, thoughtful man stop and thinE and ask himself the question Is not the state uf public affairs ill Arknasas today in a dcplorabie condition? Do we not need strong arm. brave heart anu Il eo. head in charge of the old Ship Of etatef sucA an official Is " F. Kirby.
 am told thHt the Farmers Union or Arkansas is against Mir. Kirby am told 'lSt Gt the tillers of the soil are aGalnst mn all the men on earth that ought 10 sappor1 him these are the men; they should give mn their hearty support. their hearty endofse- ment He has done more in one suit Tor tAls good order, the Farmers Union. more tIlah any other candidate in this race could do ID thousand years
 beg yon to preserve the Farmers Union intact. If you have to beat VIII hhps' pre- serve the Farmers Union.
 It has been said that your state secretary Mir Griffin is attempting to control this spien did order to promote the candidaey Of Georse W Donaghcy for governor.
 It is said that he has been hired to deliver the votes of the Farmers Union to this man for governor Whether that be true or false I know not but l do know, my friends, that Mir Griffin is in close touch with the men that 
 publicly suys that he, individually is espouslng inc cause If George W. Donaghey but that he is not doing it officially, as secretary Of the Union Gentlemen. if you can separate Mir Griffin individually from Mr. Grinus on- cial parsonage then l would be glad If some gentleman would give me the distinction
 If Ben Griffin is permitted to control and dominate your Union, and turn it 10 the poll tical advantage of anyone. or any candidate then l say gentlemen, the sooner you get rid of the Union. the better tt will be Tor the country but l have encouraging news from all parts of the stuite that the Farmers lhloh men are finding out Mr. Donaghey they are finding out Mir. Griffin, and they are hndlne out that an attempt is being made to presu ute this great order for political purposes and like rats desertinE a sinking shlp they are leaving the camp of Donaghey.
 Who Is Afr Donaehey that he should re ceive the support of the Farmers Cnieht
 George w Denaghey is contractor by pro fession charge and it cannot be success fully denied that he has never yet in any contract he has ever had employed union labor as his workmen He is not in sympathy Nlth union labor His every act has been against organized labor. ,
 He is trying to make the farmers or thls state believe that he Is the friend Of the -