The Green Forest tribune., 1912-09-27
PEOPLE" LEGISLATORS
Ignorance Ruled at the Re-
 cent Assembly,"

about half expressed an opinion on the laws that were submitted. Most peo- pie are free to criticize the represen- tatve who withholds his vots on a law that is pending before a legislative body, and we now wonder what they will have as an excuse for neglecting their duty. -Berryville Progress.
 We, the people, didn't ask the priv- lege of voting on proposed laws. It was we, the politicians, who bumfuzzled the voters and got them into the hor- rible mess. The voter who wiped out the whole business on his ticket is rather to be congratulated He is a scholar and a gentleman compared with the fellow who 'fwent blind" or fol- lowed the instruction of some precinct heeler in making up his ballot.
 If g considerable majority of the voters had refused to vote on the pro posed acts the 1. and R. facre might be eliminated by default, otherwise the endless chain of expense and fool ishness may never be stopped. It is dollars to doughnuts that not one voter in ten could tell you how he voted on the various questions at issue. An analysis of the vote on the statewide question, liquor license and the proposed grandfather clause shows that ignorance predominated in the preparation of ballots on these questions.
 Take Pulaski county, for instance. In that county it may be cited that five townships voted in favor of license, That is to say, on the face of the re- turns majority of the voters in these townships had expressed themselves infavor of saloons in Pulaski county, but not in the state of Arkansas. This condition of affairs being mani festly impossible, the only conclusion to be drawn is that the vote on one proposition or the other represents al- most exactly the opposite of what the voter intended.
 Brodie township voted 40 to 28 for statewide prohibition and 40 to 25 for license. Campbell township S vote was 9J to 50 for state-w wide prohibition and 82 to 20 for license. Gray town ship voted 80 to 89 for statewide pro- hibtion and 75 to 70 for license. Fourche township went for statewide prohibition AT to 39 and for license 46 to 20.
 These conditions are not so surpris- ing in these townships where a large portion of the voters are ignorant ne- groes, but Little Rocks fashionable residence suburb, Pulaski Heights, gave vote of 87 to 55 for statewide prohi- bition and vote of GA to 58 in favor of license.
 There is nc rule that could be ap- piled to deeermine as to the amount of intelligence exercised in voting upon the various proposed acts and amend ments, but these questions were far more completing in their nature than were the liquor questions or the ''granl .at.ler clause.
 The fate of the various measures was unquestionably determined by the politicians and the election judges. The T. J. bill, measure proposed for the relief of the revenue situation in the state, measure adopted by the legislature, being supported by mem bers who un1uestionably had the best interests of the people at heart. was defeated by the votes of men who didn't know the first syllable of the question at issue. The story of its de- feat is unquestionably due to the op- position of Joe Robinson. MT. Robin sons opposition dates back to the pri- mary election when Gov. Donaghey made it the issue upon which he sought third term. The merits of the meas ure were not passed upon. The bill was victim of circumstances, pure and simple,
 The proposed amendment to the election laws giving the minority member of the state election board was defeated. MT. Robinson and the Democratic leaders generally opposed it. That settled it. Likewise was the state uniformity of text books bill and the grandfather clause" The latter was defeated because the Demo- cratic politicians decided it best to let the negro remain bugaboo in politics.
 Without reference to the merits of the state-dde issue, it's fate was in the hands of the politicians. The support of the forces that defeated it would have adopted it with hurrah
 The adoption of amendment 12, ex- empting cotton mills from tax for seven years, is good, but the same pro- position was defeated two years ago. The adoption of amendment 13, limiting the legislature to 50 days may be a good thing, but not necessarily. Extra sessions come high and they invaribly follow short sessions. No IA, the re- call of officers, was adopted. As often as officers are elected and with ample malfeasant laws, such a law is un- necessary; but the politicians said they wanted it. They got it. The bond issue amendment was adopted and is apparently good law. It, however, had previously been defeated.
 Thus, it will be seen that legisla- ture composed of i've, the people" is both an expensive and an uncertain luxury. It cost the state hundreds of thousands. How much has it benefit ted?
 The Men Who Succeed