Pine Bluff daily graphic., 1912-05-16

it does not believe that the law that applies to gambling was ever meant to apply to the innocent amusements within the home, even if a small stake or ten cent limit is featured. For this reason, the Graphic holds that District Attorney Nixon has over stepped his bounds of authority and has shown himself to be inconsistent and absolutely unfair.
 In acknowledging his own unlaw full act, District Attorney Nixon at the same time acknowledges that he has broken a solemn promise made to the Democrats of the Eleventh Judi cial District atgthe time he was nomi- mated for the office of Prosecuting Attorney; when it was often charged that he frequented public gambling houses and MT. Nixon admitted it himself, and in speeches promised the people that if honored with the office he would never touch another card.' .
 It was only a few months after he had assumed the duties of the office that he was on the green cloth again. But this might have been over looked and looked upon as weak ness had it not been for the fact that MT. Nixon in the past several weeks has admitted that he is overhead in debt'' and that somebody will have to pay his debts,' or he vii have to take the bankruptcy law; in fact, when some of those who arc victims of Mir. NiXon's money get ting campaign inquired of him whether it was the enforcement of the law or case of money tha, prompted him to take such action he replied that he needed the money and that he was not taking such act ion for his health.
 If this is what prompted Mir. Nix on to enter homes of lawabiding peo- pie, and class them as gamblers, we must confess that after endorsing his official career the Graphic believe that his act is unworthy of the office which he holds. MT. Nixon contends that he has never bothered the poker players, and that as other Prescott, ing Attorneys have enjoyed the fees of such prosecution, he is also en- titled to his share of the "easy money"
 Mir. Nixon admits that he himseli played poker in the grand jury room at the court house and he admits that he himself has lost large sums of money at cards and he will prove untrue to his friends, whom he sayf he will file information against when he arraigns them for gamin after being in the game with them and approving of their violation oi the law.
 MT. Nixon gives as an excuse that He IS enlltleQ lO tHe teSS, dS Meii q. any other prosecuting attorney. who has preceded him. This is very poor excuse and especially when he is forced to surrender his own self respect in violating the confidence of friends who have helped to win the office he now holds. The Graphic does not wish to he understood as censuring Mr. Nixon for prosecuting friends, if they have violated the law, but the manner in which he has gone about it and the purpose of his act makes it the more censurable.
 It has always been customary for the grand jury of this county to in dict men for gaming. Sensible and fair minded grand jurors have re- 1eatedly refused to indict private ci- tizens who play cards for amusement and often for small stakes within their homes. They do not look upon the amusement as a fragrant viola tion of the law. taking more sensi-