The log cabin Democrat. [volume] (Conway, Ark.) 1908-current, 1914-02-09

hIfDyy Tie Only important Idcu IN
volved in this campaign would remain
the same-that this is a contest be-
tween progressivism and standpatism
in Arkansas
Senator Clarke's only hope lies in
his ability to divert attention from
the real issue, or so to obscure it that
it will be overlooked by the majority.
And it is unfortunate for the progress
sive democracy in Arkansas that this
vital issue is discerned and declared
by so few of our local papers. The
Log Cabin Democrat has defined the
issue clearly, forcibly and fearlessly;
but, so far as | have observed, it is
the only local paper that has done so.
Senator Clarke very adroitly seeks
to make an issue Of his ability as
statesman and of his rank in the
senate. No one questions the sena-
tors ability; that is not an issue. No
one doubts what he and his friends
say OF his rank in the senate; that
is not an issue. Aldrich, Mark Hanna,
Joe Bailey, Depew and several other
defenders of stand-patism could have
rested their cause on their ability and
their standing in the senate. 1t is
precisely such ability" and such
rank that democratic Democrats
everywhere are striving to eliminate
from places of power. Ability" for
sooth. Senator Clarke was cable" to
swoop down on the Arkansas Demo-
cratic State Convention Of 1912, like
an eagle from his eyrie, and defeat
the proposition for a presidential pre-
ference primary in this state. He
could, with just as much reason and
ability deny the right of the peo-
! pie to elect the president; and this,
too, | believe he would do if he dared
to be absolutely frank in declaring his
political creed. For this political out
rage against the Democracy of Ar
kansas, he should be politically ostra-
cized forever. This fragrant exhibit
! ton of stand-patism alone should de-
! feat him whenever the right of the
people to self-government is recog-
nized. Given whole page in the
Gazette, doubt not that the Senator
could explain" his action in this mat
ter learnedly, laboriously and to his
own satisfaction; but, in the eyes of
democratic Democrats, he has "sin-
ned against the holy ghost" Senator
Clarke's ability" and frank" in the
senate helped to delay the direct cleo
ton of United States senator's Sem
ator Clarke's ability" was arrayed
in the senate in support of work
mems compensation bill, which the
late Senator Davis solemnly declared
in speech before that body, was
so vicious and so unjust to the work
men of this country that he would
resign his seat in the senate rather
than support it.
When the initiative and referen-
dunn amendment was being fought out,
when democratic Democrats all over
the state were striving against great
odds to secure the Incorporation into
| the constitution the greatest demo-
cratic principle of modern times
when the right of the people or Ar
kansas to self-government was tremb-
ling in the balance, and was admit
tedly saved from defeat only by the
powerful logic and eloquence of w.
j. Bryan-where was the liability" of
Senator Clarke then?
What does it matter whether the
Argenta street railway system is
paying business, so long as Senator
| Clarke stands as an obstruction in
the path of progressive democracy;
what does it matter whether an en-
ployee of Senator Clarkes was on the
government pay roll, so long as the
senator is an exponent of the aristo-
cratic idea of government; what does
it matter whether senator's sons get
sinecures at Washington, so long as
the senator is survivor of the Ozark
Ages of American politics?
1t is not that Senator Clarke is
officially crooked; it is not that he
is unequipped Intellectually; it is, that
he is, by temperament, by training,
and by association, naughty repre-
sentative of the aristocratic idea of
government; that, politically, he be-
longs to the eighteenth century; and
that the Alexander Hamilton of Ar
kansas politics must be superseded by
a representative of twentieth century
democracy.
@Hammonsville, Ark, Feb. z, 1914.
Mr. and Mrs. Gus Bush are spend
mo tho day in little Rock