The log cabin Democrat., 1914-04-16
HEAR TESTIMONY
 IN CONTEST CASE
CLARKE MEN DOMINATE
CONTROL COMMITTEE AND RE- FUSE THOROUGH INVESTIGA-
 TON OF FRAUDS.
Special to the Log Cabin Democrat.

Little Rock, April 16.-This morn- lnfi's session of the State Democratic Central Committee was devoted to talk ink testimony in the Kirby Clarke con test. With Clarke dominating the committee by a large majority, the committee has limited itself to an in- vestigation of the charge that the POinsett county returns were altered after the official canvass has been made. The committee decided by a vote of 20 to z that it would make no investigation of the fact that 529 more votes were cast in Poinsett county than there were poll tax receipts is sued in the county
 Judge Kirby introduced numerous affidavits this morning to the effect that the returns in Poinsett county as first announced were correct and that they were afterwards changed to add 400 to Clarke's majority in that coun- ty. Clyde Going and others who are charged with manipulating the re- turns made denials of the charges.
 The ballot boxes and poll books of Poinsett county have been sent for and it was announced that they would arrive in Little Rock at 1 o'clock this afternoon
 Little Rock, April 16.-All day Wednesday was spent by the State Democratic Central Committee in lis tening to oratory and in skirmishing for openings in the Clarke Kirby con test for the United States senatorial nomination
 ha Ia lsa t,s,tl ,k,.a at,f at every point, the committee lining up strongly in his favor No decision was reached. however, and just pre- ceding adjournment resolution pro- posed by c. P. Wilmington of Gar land and seconded by Senator Clyde Going, was adopted by vote of P to ,. It was stated that, as required by this resolution, Secretary H. B. Thorn of the Poinsett county committee would proceed on the first train to Harrisburg, secure the poll books, tal- | ly sheets and ballot boxes of the re- cent primary, and returning, deliver them into the hands of the state con- mittee for such disposition as they might deem proper.
 The features of the day were speeches at the afternoon session by Judge w. F. Kirby and Senator Clarke, each of whom was given a most respectful hearing and were ire quently interrupted with applause from their adherents.
 This was especially strong on the Kirby side of the hall when, in the course of his address, he challenged Senator Clarke to run the race over again in 30 days, in the whole state, and not make speech, or to run it over in Poinsett county and abide by the result.
 While the addresses of the two can didates were eloquent and often inn passioned, they were free from per sonalities, and there were few pers- onal clashes.
 Senator Clarke said if the people of the St. Francis Levee District had known Judge Kirby's record on evee matters better, he would not have got ten as many votes as he did. "Sena- tor Clarke would have been beaten by 10000 majority if it had not been for his control of federal patronage de- clared Judge Kirby, and Senator Clarke retorted, If it had not been for the federal patronage l would have won by 50,000."
 The greater part of the day was spent in a discussion of resolution defining the purpose and policy of the committee. The Kirby forces insisted upon the fullest investigation of all allegations of fraud in Poinsett coun- ty, but the resolution as finally adopt ed declares that the committee shall confine it's investigations to charges of alterations of returns, and disre- gard as irregularities impracticable of contest, allegations concerning the failure of any voter to pay poll tax as required by law
 N0AIllIlN IN unllc 0E