The Green Forest tribune., 1912-06-14

Approximately eight million acres over
 flow. This is scarcely sufficient to pro-
 vide for the reservoirs, and when the
 fact is considered that the reservoir plan contemplates permanently under
 water an area almost if not quite as
 large as the entire overflow regions.
 which at worst, under the lcvee system. is only flooded occasionally. the Su periority of levees to reservoirs is mani fest. Cost and maintenance of the two systems cannot be accurately COmpAr-
 ed. but I believe levees less expensive. 'Tnasmuch as the floous are occa- stoned in part by causes which originate
 in other states. and inasmuch as any levee system which can gIVe protec- tion must extend through several states
 and deal with interstate questions. I believe that the federal government should assume control anu maintenance Of the Mississippi river leveeS. The Mississippi valley is the great store house of the nation. It's importance to trade and commerce is manifest Local or state levee days have demonstrated in part their efficiency to successfully control ordinary floods while those like the present require much stronger levees than can be constructed through local organizations by taxation of the com munities interested, The federal gov ernment can deal with the subject eff fectiVely. No reasonable objection arises
 to supplementins ,ae federal fund with a local tax, levied according to benefits. | If the federal government declines to assume the maintenance of these leVeeS,
 we should reform our local levee or ganizatons. free them from political | iealousieS and rivalries and take them out of politics Differences may arise as to the best method O. accomplishing | these reforms. Those who contribute | the taxes to maintain une levees should
 have voice .n selecting the board. Corrupt PracL.ces Act,
 Honest primaries ana elections un-
 derlie all political reforms. The shame ful and disgraceful practice of expend- l ing enoromus sums of money in Arkan- | promotes fraud dishonesty and bau gov ernment. It excludes poor men from
 office and afflicts our political insti- | tutionS with the leprUsy of corruption. Pledges of appointment to office in con s1deratlon of political support and prom lses or pardons should be made impeach- able. Campaign contributions and ex- penditures should be limited and full publicity required. The limit should be reasonable so as not to seprIVe the voters of the opportunity of becoming familiar with the cahcidates and their views. Boodlfng in elections is the parent of all forms of dishonesty in
 greed, the serpent or bribery ana all their crawling progeny are protected
 and fattened If We would preserve
 popular !giovern1ment in Arkansas. we
 imminent peril, which threatens our
 state government.
 We are now on the eve of a mo- mentuos nationa l campaign Political
 lines are being reformed for a great battle in November If we as Demo
 crats remain loyal to our .tions and
 principles, if we act wisely in choosing | a candidate, the next president of the | United States will be a Democrat.
 Taft Versus roosevelt.
 There is little prospect of harmony
 the progressives and the reactionaries | Those erstwhile friends and political as-
 Sociates; My Dear William and My | roctously. Each has assigned the other
 to first rank in the Ananias Club.
 Each has accused the other of dis | charges that MT. Roosevelt when pres ldent, suppressed suits by the govern
 ment against the trusts 10 secure their | favor and support and to obtain cam paign funds: that Mr. Roosevelt's cam paign is now being financed by the harvester trust al. declares it's chief executive, MT. Perkins With amazing
 audacity, MT. Roosevelt a fmlts these charges, and declares that MT. Taft as a member of the cabinet. counseled irn- munitv for the harvester trust. and when hfmSelf candidate for the presidency, solicited and received liberaIy campaign | funds and leans from the same source and asserts that a loan Of $I5.OO0 has ready concluded that neither deserve the high honor sought Let us counsel to- gether and choose as -.1r national lead CT one of high chara ter and unques- | ttoned ability. whose con 4ldacv will uni- | fy Democrats. and without compromise of principle attract independent and uns- satisfied Republican votes. Let us choose leader for whom no anoloGieS need be
 made to voters of foreign birth; whose l campaign fund is derived from no nues- | tianahle source: one who has always | been faithful to the cause of the nen- l rle. progressive, broad min led cautious i and patriotic. candt late whom the
 our party will both support one who | has never bolted: a perocrat of unfal- tering faith and undouDte1 loyalty Such man is Champ Clara or -AsS0uri. He comes from the very heart and center of the Union. His integrity has remain ed unquestioned, his goo7 rqr1e urs11- 1 lied for more than quarter of cen-
 tury of continuous pu'flic service lie
 is a warrior who has ways pitched is
 tent in the midst of the hosts Of Israel
 He has never broken brea1 at the ene- mYs table, nor sought shelter in hts camp. His bri~ht blade beekans the armies of Democracy to battle and his white plume will leao us to victory in November.
 "A great opportunity awaits the Democratic party. This oppOrtuoitY is ] for patriotie service Tn the cause of liberty, enli@htenmert and good govern
 ment With perfect harmony prevail
 ing, with right and justice on our side,
 let us up guards and at them "