The Harrison times. (Harrison, Boone Co., Ark) 1876-1938, 1912-11-30
Little Rock Letter.

no cause for marvel in the fact that
there are about 10000 applicants
for the 1000 federal positions in the
state that are at the disposal of the
President, For a generation the
Democrats have been kept away
from the pie counter, and it would
be strange if they were not hungry
by this time. The Republicans have
garnered about 81, 900, 900 from the
public treasury, and now the Demo-
Gratis consider that turn about is
fair play" The Republicans yield
their places reluctantly, but have no
recourse,
1t is new experience for the Dem.
ocrats, who have not been seeking
government patronage long enough
to make it a habit. But they are
learning, and no place will go UNI
filled because of a lack of adequate
material The marshaIships, the
district attornc, ships, the land Off
ces and the 10 presidential post
Offices will be the storm center and
about these will rally the army Of
earnest and willing patriots, and
there will be a great rcyamplng OF
political records, the original Wilson
men having first call,
1t is interesting to know just how
this great amount Of patronage will
be handled, If the states nine rep
rcscntatiyes in Congress do not
make the most of the situation for
the strengthening of their political
fences, it will be because they lack
the necessary shrcwdncss and fore.
thought, Where there are ten appli-
cants however, for one post office,
the badgered member of Congress
runs the risk Of winning the opposi.
tion of ne.tenths of his constitu-
cucy, But that is his lookout,
To avoid this responsibility as
much rs possible, and reduce federal
patronage Co a genuine Democratic
basis, many Of the cities Of the state
are discussing the holding Of prefer
entail primaries to determine whom
the people want, This is meeting
with favor in several places, but in
TeSarkana an opposing sentiment
has been aroused because it would
throw the selection OF incumbents
open TO Republicans and negroes,
ind the victory.hushcd Democrats
insist upon the old maxim that 80
the yictors belong the spoilS,'
"'fhe close corporation that has
for years been dispensing the gov.
eminent patronage the Executive
Committee Of the Republican State
Central Committee, has been de-
posed, and for once is without job,
The duty OF referee must therefore
deyolyt upon someone else, There
are 1850 lourlh class post Offices
which have been transferred 70 the
postal inspectors for recommends
ton, without reference to religion,
politics, or color, but there are
enough places left to get every mem.
her Of the congressional delegation
roundly condemned by those who
fail TO receive appointments,
While no announcement has been
made a. to the plan to be pursued,
it has been suggested that the sen.
ators and representatives will prob.
ably agree upon a division of the
patronage, Senator's Davis and
Clark probably taking the large dis
trict Offices, and the representatives,
standing sponsor for the post Off.
ces But that is only surmisc, How.
ever It may be, there are nine Arkon'
sans making their temporary home
in Washington, who will not be per-
mitted to forget that they have a
receptive constituency at home,
4 statement cmanating from F.
Smith, that National Chairman Me-
Combs, whose original home is at
Hamburg, where they are already
running him for the Presidency, will
expect 60 take an active part in the
distribution of Arkansas Offices has
attracted a great deal of comment
kilograms have been received from
Mr. MeGombs DENYING the report
The Arkansas delegation did not
come to Wilson until the last ballot
In the Baltimore convention, stand
ing by Champ Clark until the land
slide started, and doubtless those
who stood by the New Jersey gov
ernor through the historic contest
will have more consideration than
those who voted Tor the Mlssourlon
70 the last, Members OF Wilson
clubs, and men who worked with
MeGnmbs against the overwhelm'
Ing Clark sentiment, will expect TO
he served first at table, and the
Clark supportrrters, like bad boys,
must wait for the second table,