The log cabin Democrat. [volume] (Conway, Ark.) 1908-current, 1911-05-18
Editor Log Cabin Democrat:

many times introduced as "The Ar
kansas Traveller" that | feel unhappi-
ly disappointed if | am not thus intro
duced. The more l hear it the more
| want to hear it and the prouder |
am that | can claim Arkansas for my
native state.
find people here in Washington
City ignorant of the geography CT the
state; so much so that they almost in
variably refer to Arkansas as a west
ern state. They are also ignorant OF
the history of the state, ignorant of
the states resources, ignorant of the
famous Arkansas Traveller"
No piece of humor has had a wider
circulation nor has been enjoyed by
more people, both within and without
the state. No piece of humor is more
worthy of warm place in the hearts
of any people. | am inclined to think
that Arkansas people as a rule have
never appreciated it in the spirit it
deserves. | should like to see the time
come when copies of the famous
painting of Mr.. Edward P. Wash
burns "The Arkansas Traveller" will
find a place upon the walls of many of
our homes.
out of place to refer to the fact that
Faulkner county was named for Col.
Sandford c. Faulkner, the man who
immortalized the famous colloquy and
song, following a chance visit to
leaky log cabin in remote part of
Chicot county. 1t is an interesting
coincidence that the little city of Con-
way was named for the Conway fam
lily, the most aristocratic family of the
state. The Conway family, as you
doubtless know, can be traced back to
the archives of the lorddom and duke
dom of England, and it has given to
the state more governors and men
high in public life than any other
family of the state. 1t is fitting in
deed that the county should be named
for the man who immortalized type
of easy-going citizens, schooled in the
purest elements of the simple life
The type represents Arkansas pion-
GERS, who were forced to build log huts
before building palaces. 1t represents
a peopl" who gave to the world gen.
eral kindness impractical among city
folks. While it is fitting that Faux
ner county should be so named, it is
city beautiful of the county and the
educational center of the state, should
be named for a family so illustrious
as the Conway family. While | am
on the subject of the significance OF
names l would suggest that the ably
edited Log Cabin Democrat comes ir
| for lions share of credit for it's re
lationship in name to "The Arkansas
Traveller"
''The Arkansas Traveller" however
in its usual significance, suggests 8
type of citizenship quite different
from what the name Conway sug
gests. But the difference is not SC
great after all. A diamond in the
rough is a diamond just the same. If,
| for the sake of convenience, they may
be referred to as different types the
one very tittingly supplements the
other. Both types alike have given
to the state a worthy and illustrious
citizenship. 1t is of little concern to
| the present generation whether a man
is descendant of one type or the 9th
er. An illustrious parentage alone
| should no more give one a passport
into society than the fact that a man
claims to be "self-made" should b,
political asset. Each should stand
or fall on his own merits without re
gard to wealth or parentage
| deny the statement made by GER
tain historian that THE Arkansas
Traveller" story and song have done
untold injury to the state" and that
it deserves to be passed by with sill
ence because he says people are apt
TO get the idea that the humorous
carlcature represents a leading type
of Arkansas character" Well, sup
| pose people do think it; what of it?
Most assuredly the humorous carica-
ture represents leading type of Ar
kansas character. But instead of MAX
ing excuses and apologies for the type,
we ought to acknowledge it and de-
| fend it. We ought to become a part
of the type and help make it what we
want ourselves to be. We ought to
erase the dividing line and dwell hap
PLY together as one people. No, the
untold injury done the state can not
be laid at the door of The Arkansas
Traveller" Here in the east | regard
the appellation as an asset rather
than liability; passport rather
than hindrance.
If it is true that the state has lost
in reputation would lay the respon-
sibility at the doors of others than
those early pioneers who have ever
given more abundantly to the state
than they in turn have received from
the state. | would rather lay the re-
sponsibility at the doors of those, who
by respectable GU stealing and pecu-
lation, have Systematically robbed the
state. | would lay it at the doors of
reconstruction carpet-baggers who
were responsible for the Holford bond
steal and other similar steals.
| would not stop there, however. |
would lay large share of the respon-
sibility at the door of the modern
political demagogue who spends so
much of his time going about over the
state lying to the people about what
he has done and about what he is GO
ing to do that he has no time left to
render the state an efficient service.
He is the man who spends his entire
term of office "vindicating" himself
fnr hniper aWau frot,, hi ,,nct of l,+,,