The log cabin Democrat., 1914-06-08
CLARKE DISCLA|MS
 ASSAULT ON HAYS
PEACE MAKERS ARE BUSY
EFFORTS MADE TO HEAL RUP- HETEROGENEOUS STING
 ING REBUKE.

lriehds of Senator James P. Clarke
 and Gov. George w. Hays, hailinp
 from Crittenden, St. Francis. Missis- slppl, Ouachita and other counties, spent several strenuous hours in Lit
 tie Rock Sunday afternoon, confer
 ring with the senator and governor,
 with the view of healing the rupture caused by Senator Clarke's attack on
 Governor Hays administration in a
 speech delivered on the eve of the close of the Democratic state conven-
 ton at Pine Bluff. The conference
 with Governor Hays took place at
 the Hotel Marion, and later in the afternoon the peacemakers, headed by Judge K. A. Rolfe of Forrest City. conferred with Senator Clarke in his office in the Southern Trust building.
 It was stated after the conference that Senator Clarke disclaimed any intention of attacking Governor Hays Tn his Pine Bluff speech and that the
 language attributed to him was mis- construed by the governor, which caused the latter to criticise the sen- ator in a public statement. Senator Clarke stated that he may issue a statement before his departure for Washington relative to the matter. He had intended leaving today, but at the last moment decided to defer his departure.
 The statement of Governor Hays, in which he administered a stinging rebuke to Senator Clarke and offered to resign his office if the senator would hand his nomination back to the people, was published yesterday. It is in part as follows:
 "I have no defense to offer for my self or my administration, but leave that to the sound judgment of the people of the state. 1 feel, however, that there may be some misunder- standing as to my connection with the recent Democratic state conven- tion, as published reports gave the impression that l was ignored. I did not ask or make single request of the convention or the committee.
 With reference to the platform, wish to say that Judge Elliott, the chairman of the convention, came to me in person and requested me to serve as chairman of the platform Icommittee.' I told him I would rath- CT not do so, and, in fact, declined to accept the appointment.
 'In the Gazette in which it is said Ithot C1nrl,o Hays after eulogizing Clyde Going, and where a reflection is cast by him that my nomination was stolen, the senator says: I would rather live under Republican administration than that of a man who stole his cleo l tion. To this I wish to say that the same State Central Committee that declared me the nominee for gover- nor last year was the committee that declared Senator Clarke the nominee for United States senator If he re- fleets upon me, he reflects upon the Central Committee that acted in his case. If my nomination was stolen, it was done by this same Central Committee. When the State Central Committee declared me the nominee for governor last year, they did it without the slightest or remotest hope of reward, only expecting that would fulfill the duties of that office in a faithful and conscientious way. 1 had no federal patronage at my dis posal for which any one could look to or expect favoritism.
 'I am as much in favor of clean politics as any man in the state, and have done my utmost to restore peace and harmony in the ranks of the Democratic party. l will go as far as any man toward seeing that law is enacted which will give to the peo- pie this protection. I say to Senator Clarke that he nor any other man can get on a higher plane of patriotism than myself, and I say to him now that, if he feels that the Democracy of Arkansas should be absolutely cleansed of fraud allegations, if he will retire from the office of United States senator, 1 will retire from the office of governor, and we will hand these two offices back to the people, that they may bepurged of every yes tige of fraud and that they may be filled by men selected by the people absolutely spotless and without the slightest degree of fraud, if any fraud actually existed in our cleo tions.
 Senator Clarke stated in his speech: I want to acknowledge him (referring to Clyde Goingl as my friend. I wish to say that, as be- tween the two men, had ten thou sand times rather acknowledge Judge Kirby, who is the peer of the senator