The log cabin Democrat., 1914-03-20
fULKS AND ROGERS
 INLET IN DEBATE LARGE CROWD PRESENT
SENATOR CLARKE'S RECORD AND CLAIMS FOR RF-ELEC-
 TON ARE DISCCEGEr..

Before a crowd of about 300 voters. Prof. Clay Fulks of Hammonsville and Deputy Prosecuting Attorney s. w, Rogers of Conway at the court house last night discussed Senator James P. Clarke's record and dis cussed the desirability of re.electing him for another term in the United States senate. Prof. C. c. Denney of the State Normal presided at the meeting and introduced the speakers. The question. IS stated by the chair Yaan. was Resolved, That Senator Clarke is Stardpatter alc Keac- tlonary az ST ould Not be Re Elect ed to Another Term in the United States Senate"
 MT. Fulks, on the affirmative side of the question, spoke first. He de- voted much of the time allotted him to introductory remarks, tracing the history of progressiveism in the Dem- ocratic party since its fusion with the Populists in 1896. He declared that terms standpatter and reactionary are practically synonymous and that if Senator Clarke could be shown not to have been in sympathy with the progressive element of the party, he stood convicted of being a standpatter and a reactionary. The time taken up by MT. Fulks in outlining his po- sition put him at disadvantage and in his main argument he was forced to refer briefly to some of his strong est points and to omit discussion of others indicated in his introduc- tion, when the chairman called time on him.
 The speaker was particularly eff fective in his reference to Senator Clarke's position in both the state and national conventions of 1912 and said this was the last time that the lines had been sharply drawn be- tween the two factions in the party. Senator Clarke, he stated, was align ed with the reactionaries in both con- ventions, denouncing Bryan in Ar kansas and voting for Alton B. Par ker and against Bryan at Baltimore. MT. Fulks charged that Senator Clarke refused to aid in the fight for the initiative and referendum; that he was opposed to the recall, the pres idential primaries and the direct cleo tion of president and president and that he voted with the Republi- cans for the Bristow amendment put ting the election of Senators under government supervision.
 MT. Rogers, in opening his address, declared the terms standp9tter and reactionary are not synonymous Champ Clarke, he said, could not be .classed as a reactionary, and Senator Clarke's action at Baltimore was only in support of Champ Clarke, for whom the Arkansas delegation had been instructed. He said Clarke's vote with the Republicans on the di- rect election of senators made the adoption of that amendment possible several years earlier. The endorse ment of him by President Wilson and Secretary Bryan, he stated, was vol untary and would not have been given except in recognition of valua- ble services by the senator.
 That Senator Clarke has personal traits which are not admirable, MT. Rogers admitted, but he has always been progressive.
 He declared that there was no off, cial record of Senator Clarke's speech in the Democratic state convention and denied that the senator bitterly assailed' Bryan, although he stated that he did criticise him. Bryan, however, MT. Rogers declared, was not offended by this and afterwards showed his friendship for Clarke. In conclusion, MT. Rogers said the 'charge that the senator IS a standpat- ter is ridiculous, and that no proof of the assertion had been offered.
 In his five-minute rejoinder, Mr Fulks warmed up to his subject and offered tellin gargument to controvert his opponents points. He character ized Senator Clarke's whole political course as being reactionary, and said there is not single word or act to which his friends could point showing that the senator ever favored any of the progressive principles of the party.
 Both speakers were at times ap- ! platded, though good order was main