The log cabin Democrat., 1912-04-01
ANALYzES CAUSE
 OF LANDSLIDE D0NACHEY'S LONG FIGHT GRAPHICALLY DESCRIBED BY A WELLKNOWN ARKANSAS
 NEWSPAPER MAN.
BY A. W. PARKE.

DeiiioCidlic pTlIildIy y-lne OlQ pIoNef- bial smoke will not answer m tlus case as a modern ammumt .on was used, and it does not make smoke when 1t burns-there remains only to be told some of the causes for the landslides for Robinson. There is noth.ng now but glorification for the vlctorS and lamentation tor the van quished.
 Having visited every section within month previous to the primaries, and watched the changing of condi- tlons, l can give but one reason for the defeat of Governor Donaghey- his failure to play politics. Over-con- fidence might have contributed a bit early in the game, but sometime be- fore the election Governor Donaghey realized what fight he had on his hands and gamely buckled to the task. Even then he declined to play politics He tried to ride into office on ideals and found the people looking rather for personal gain than for the ends to be galned through following the mottos of the old writing tablets.
 Governor Donaghey fought his way into office, and no matter whether he was right or wrong, took with him in- to office the enmity of people of influ- ence m the state who were never known to quit fighting. lie was the hero of certain clique when he was iEaugurated, wh oh thought it would aictate affairs Of state. They found early in the regime that man was nfl who fo o { he thought right for the state This turned many against him who had Lten hls warmest supporters. Fellow tcwnsmen and kinsmen were among those who deserted the governor at this time.
 During two sessions of the legisla- ture Governor Donaghey fought for prime pies. He made new enemies at every turn. Each of these enemies be- came an active worker against the governor. While they could not be forced to admit it, each of these men knew the governor was making a fight for the people, and not for hlm- seif. in add tion to this, Governor Donaghey declined many things which friends asked for, which could not have injured the state, and would have proven h ghly beneficial to the followers. He declined to play poli- tics With his office. in thls manner the most influential men in practic- ally every county in the state turned against Governor Donaghey.
 Then the campaien opened. The active workers in each county were augmented by prominent men who had personal reasons for suppoi ting Joe T. Robinson. They were C. ther close personal friends, relatives, or had pledged their support to Robin son before the final line up in the gub- ernatorial contest was announced. Managers of the Robinson campaign began by putting the governor on the defense at the frst shot of their gun, and as soon as he made effort to an- swer one, they brought in a new issue and kept him continually explaining. They started with the state capitol :; rang in the Turner-J acobson bill with the cry of increased taxes, which is a red flag in the face of the small prop erty owner; juggled the figures to show the governor was to blame for the financial condition of Arkansas today, and with almost the same breath they charged him with being a cold-blooded monster for vetoing many of the reckless appropriations made by the legislature.
 Gradually, but surely, the oppos;- tion drove Governor Donaghey to a declaration for statewide prohibition. Naturally inclined in that direction, the governor took up the gauntlet and carried the fight to the bulwark of the opposition. Then the opposition un- dertook to discredit the sincerity of Governor Donaghey in his stand for prohibition, and so split the prohibi- tion ranks that the fight along this line was against the governor, in stead of the prohibition forces aiding him.
 From closely watching the situa- tion, believe that it was just before he made his declaration for statewide prohibition that Governor Donaghey realized he was doomed to defeat Governor Donaghey is one of the best political judges the state has ever had. He can look over the state and come very near telling what is going to happen. Many things which hap pened about this time, convince me that Governor Donaghey determined 1 to hit straight from the shoulder for prohibition, again throwing politics to the wind. He did not grab at the prohibition plank in his platform as a drowning man would a straw. He apparently knew that it meant cer- tain defeat when he discontinued his pleading for submission of the liquor question to the people and spoke out
 rioht for statewide prohibition. Even
 at that time, he could have had the liquor forces behind him, but he dis.