Pine Bluff daily graphic. (Pine Bluff, Ark.) 1893-1942, 1911-10-22
Judge Kerwin's Reply to
Messrs. Collier and Oracle
Continued From Page 81

Continued From Page 81
for the Senate? believe all this that you did is what in
the common parance of the day called diplomatic ring
politics And yet you talk about being against bosses and
ring rule You amt though Mr. Collier you if you be
the BOSS yourself and have your little RING? |
know make you smile when you are by yourself.
Since Mr. w. H. Langford took such active part in as
pertaining the views of the candidates for the legislature Oh
the bridge question: gives much pleasure for his
workers and those opposed to the bridge Improvement
print in this reply to you what Mr. Langord Mr.
.Hean, Mr. Andrews and myself five and onehalf
years ago while serving county Judge OF course
don't know when he changed his mind from being for
to being against it, but it is just possible that many may
change their minds both those for it and against it
If you will pardon the suggestion Mr.. Collier, would
it not have been better for you if had endorsed all the
candidates for Representative and then let the PEOPLE
RULE and elect the three they thought best fitted
fill the positions They all practically made you the
And the three you endorsed not the three
that gave you that - per cent answer that Tom White is
running
s. What caused YOU TO saw 10 Mr. Wilson (you know of
meeting one Of the members of the Taxpayers Protective
Association that if you do not to support candi-
dates and slate don't you? That is what these
mean old ring politicians call fixing it and stacking the
+ meeting But know you have no use OF such men as
would do that.
One OF the men who was also member said after
your meeting dourned when asked what the Executive
committee did behind closed DOORS said that he under
secrecy not tell believe it Bret Harte who said:
That for that dark,
And for tricks that vain
The heather Chnee is peculiar.
And I might add that know who not Chi
either.
i. AS TO NIAJORlT RULE.
The official list OF the protesting real property owners
while and black against the passage of the referendum
idee bill was printed in the Arkansas Gazette Sunday
April 10 1911 The article consumed full page with
here there plenty Of condemnation the heads Of the
representatives who voted for it and passed it agree
with Mr. Collier and J. P Oracle, resident OF the City Of
Little Rock that MAJORITY petition should at all times
be needed by the Representatives Of all the people.
Mr. Collier says turned down Majority petition
against the bridge bill say Just positively that did
mot Upon the petition presented to me before the passage
the BILL and taking Mr. Golfers word for it say again
will make you this proposition Mr.. Collier.
You name two of any of your friends, and I will
name two of any of my friends, and then let the
four select fifth man and if you can demonstrate
to the five gentlemen that at the time the bridge
q bill passed, you had either MAJORITY in num-
hers Of the real property owners, or If you had
MAJORITY of the acreage of the county, or II ev-
U en- you had a MAJORITY Of the VALUE Of the
acreage of the county, and that you had all this on
April is, 1911 the day the referendum bridge bill
passed pledge you my word and honor publicly,
that if demonstrate that fact to five gentlemen
to be chosen as hereinbfore provided, will with
draw from the race for the Senate On the other
hand to make the proposition go both ways, if you
fail to prove that you had that MAJORITY you
talk so loud about now and that is your main rea-
son for endorsing Tom White for the Senate, will
you withdraw Tom White from the race? don't
want any endorsement from the Executive Com
uittee Isn't that fair? Isn't that just to ev-
eryone concerned?
Now Mr. Collier, the petition presented by yous and
o J. NJ Oracle and his Asa Oracle, the Little Rock
awyer who represents the Taxpayers Association OF JET
ferson county, Gall the lawyers Pine Bluff must be TOT
that bridge Improvement never saw except while it repos-
ed in the coat pocket of Mr. Collier took his word for
1t when he said it contained 900 names.
But when the passed the House of Represe-
atiyes on Saturday April s. 1911 Mr. Collier or the law
yer Mr. Oracle Little Rock representing the Taxpayers
PROTECTIVE Association Of Jefferson county, took the petition
and had it printed in full in the Arkansas Gazette
That petition if the Gazette published 1t correctly and
II presume they did they paid to publish the same
two occasions costing the taxpayers presume something
between ST 5000 and 100000, as follows
The number of signers on the petition were~ o7o
The number of acres represented BY them was @ foooi
.Tle AVERAGE value Of this acreage according to the