Pine Bluff daily graphic., 1912-08-06
TONEY BELIEVES
 IN RECIPROCITY Pine Bluffian Will Not Question Legal Right of Senator Rodgers To
 Serve as Governor.
DONAGHEY IS ABSENT
Constitutional Question Involved But There Will Be No COntesi-TOney
 kepays Friend in Nead.

The recent statement in Little Rock papers that Governor George w. Donaghey would leave the state and that he has summcned Senator in his absence brought a number of letters and telegrams to Senator H. friends who claim that he is Lieuten- ant Governor of the s-ate instead of Senator Rodgers.
 There is constitutional question involved ill th's matter and Senator Toney has decided it in favor of his friend, Senator Rodgers, who be- friended him ill a similar manner during the meeting of the legislature. The constitution provides that when the legislature adjourns the Senate shall elect president pro-tempore of the Senate from among the hold overs. It also provides that the Sen ate is. the sole judge of the election of it's officers and members. The lase Senate elected Senator H. K Toney as president and when the regular session adjourned elected Senator W. c. Rodgers president pro tempore.
 When Governor Donaghey recon vened the legislature in extra ses- sion he and his friends tired to oust President Toney on the grounds that Senator Rodgers had been elected and qualified as his successor Senator Toney's friends claim that his term of office eoes not expire until Sep tember. There was heated contest over the matter and the Senate by a large majority decided Senator Toney was the legal pres dent of the sen- ate and he was reinstated in office Senator Toney refused to do as Gov ernor Donaghey would have him do in regard to the State House and other matters and Governor Dora- ghey issued an order that Senator Toney should be oustel and Senator Rodgers given the chair. It was at this time and ia this contest as well as a former contest that Senator Rodgers proved himself friend of Senator Toney. He issued a lengthy op nion and while admitting that it was a question of some doubt as to who the legal president of the Sen- ate was, still the best nteresss S of the state demanded that he should roj enter into controversy, legal or otherwise, to have the matter deter mined and supported Senator Toney in every contention raised, notwith- standing that different course might have resulted in putting him. self in the Presidents chair.
 Senator Toney, when seen yester- NoSs SsoSSu ehol OHC SOON tul II uG- serves another. As Senator Rodgers stated when he was supporting me III my contention to hold the sident's chair that while there was some doubt he was more interested in the peaceful and orderly administrat on of the state government than he was in being pres dent of the Senate" he continued. So now I feel the same way in regard to his holding the Governors cffice. Governor Rodgers acts will all be legal regardless of any question that may be raised as to who should act in Cove rnor Dot aghey'S absence. It is true the Sen ate dec ded that I was it's legal pre- siding officer after Senator Rodgers had been elected president pro tenn pore, still 1 make no claims to the office and therefore there can be no question of Governor Rodgers right to act. Governor Rodgers was my true and patriotic friend when Gov ernDor Donaghey With his little clique tried 10 put me out of office and l am very glad of this opportunity to show my friendship for him. Cover nor Rodgers is one of the brightest lawyers in the state, man not only of culture and refinement but of high moral stau ling The people will not suffer by Governor Rodgers holding things down in Governor Donaghey's absence