The Green Forest tribune., 1908-08-28
Address to the Voters of Carroll County

FELLOW CITIZENS OF CARROLL COUNTY:
 I now come to you and earnestly ask you for a second term as Circuit Clerk and Re- corder of this county.
 But first, let me sincerely thank you for entrusting this office to me two years ago, although it cost me hundreds of dollars 10 fight that infamous contest that was waged against me after you had honestly and fairly elected me. Through it all I point with pleasure and pride to the record have made.
 Promises Have All Been Redeemed
 promised you if elected, I would give you the very best service at my command, irrespective of party, condition or location, assuring you at the same time that knew how to discharge the duties of the office as contemplated by the law.
 promised you that in the recording of any instrument where I discovered obvious errors, I would call your attention to them, that the same might be corrected before go- ing to record. Although I was severely criticised by those who opposed me, for making this promise, now remind you that 1 have done this many times, and scores of you all over the county will recall my having volunteered you favors of this kind.
 I promised you that the use of whiskey by any one in or about the office would be strictly forbidden, and say to you now that the same has been absolutely prohibited, and without offense to any one so far as know.
 promised you that all costs due the county through my office would be collected as required by law. In all cases where l have indulged attorneys or others and the same was not paid as the law directs, have paid it myself in order that the county would not be the loser. The failure of the clerk to look closely after the collection of the fees and costs accruing to the office can easily lose to the county several hundred dollars in 4l,o@ ~f I1o ocho, hn satisfied with collecting just enough to make his salary.
 In this connection, I will say that the Circuit Clerk of this county is paid salary of $500 per year. Out of this he must pay the salary of deputy for the office at Eureka Springs, and also pay all bills for fuel, etc. All amounts above his salary must be paid into the county treasury.
 Will Have Saved The County S63l.25 More Than
 Erz Predecessor
 For the purpose of comparison, only, l wish to say that during the 20 months of my term for which l have made settlement with the county court, l have paid into the county treasury fees and costs in excess of my salary the sum of S27.13 per month. My predeces- sOr paid into the county the sum of SS.Ol per @ month, making 8 difference of S19.12 per month in my favor At this rate will have paid into the county at the end of my two years term the net sum of S63l. .25 above my salary, while my predecessor only paid in the sum of S192. .46 as fees and costs in excess of his salary for his full two years term. In ad- dition to this I hold the County Treasurer s receipts amounting to $746.05 for county tax on deeds and mortgages, making total net sum of S1288.8O that have already paid into the county for 20 months of my term. By comparison, it will be found that the volume of business during my term is no larger than for the same length of time under any of my pre- decessros for the past six years. have been enabled to make this splendid showing by diligently collecting all costs and fees due the county and faithfully accounting for the same.
 Spent More Than $500 in Defending Contest
 have made this record notwithstanding the fact that during more than 16 months of my term there was pending in the courts an election contest and suit incident thereto, against me that required much of my time and attention, and which cost me more than $500 to defend, to say nothing of the loss of sleep, worry and annoyance occasioned on account of the outrage, but in every instance the courts found in my favor, saying that the people had honestly and fairly elected me.
 As a sample of what had to fight in that infamous contest, will quote few para graphs from the petition filed against me, as follows:
 Extract from McLouds Petition Before the Board oi
 County Election Commissioners
 That said election commissioners contrary to law and good conscience refused to count the votes,