The Spectator., 1915-03-12
DENIED THAT IT HAD EVER BEEN HIS INTENTION TO APPROVE
 THE RACING BILL.
WISNESSES WERE MISTAKEN
Denies That He Has Ever Tried to Play Both Sides or That He Has
 Been lnconsi stent.
Little Rock.

y and asserts that those who have made statements to the effect that they saw him sign 1t are evidently mistaken" He further says that he has acted honestly and conscientiously," and 'has an abiding faith in the honesty and integrity of the yeomanry of the state, which believes that right should and must prevail under any and all circumstances"
 Gov. Hays says, II vetoed the bill and am proud of it, and adds:
 "l wish to say, with reference to the dgned statements of certain parties, that they are evidently mistaken. The arst writing that I placed on this bill was to disapprove it. This can be seen by the dis written before the word approved being erased, and la- ter. being placed back on the bill. The only man that saw me write my name on that bill was J. A. Bradsher, and the only thing that those gentlemen saw me do, with reference to the bill, was to run my pen through the prefix above referred to, and, in a few min utes, l again wrote the syllable dis as above stated.
 "I am proud of the fact that the photograph of the signature was made and published, because 1t is sufficient of itself, without one word from me, to show that the first act of mine was to disapprove the bill. This is shown by the first erasure made in the pres ence of those gentlemen and after ward written on the bill It is true that when I erased the syllable dis those gentlemen congratulated me, but before they left my office; that is, the office occupied by my secretary, told MT. Bradsher to go to them and tell them that would not approve the bill, and he stated to me that he did so.
 "I had my veto message prepared Monday morning. I read the message to MT. Bradsher and Mir Surridge in the governors office just before o'clock Monday. I do not believe that these gentlemen who have made the statements as carried in the Democrat intend to misquote me, but l do say positively and emphatically that the only thing that they saw me do, with pen and ink. was to mark out the dis and this of itself is sufficient to bear out my statement and to con- vince anyone who will study this mat ter that my first official act was 10 veto this measure. I am sure that MT. Bradsher will bear out my state ment that I had done this writing, placing my signature on the bill, be- fore anyone came into the office. eX- cept Judge Eugene A. Rolfe, and think that possibly Judge Rolfe was in the office at the time did the writ ing, but no one else 1 do know posi- lively that the only thing I did in the presence of these gentlemen was to run my pen through the prefix above referred to. I have never had such pressure brought to bear upon me in all my life to gee me to do something that l did not feel was right The friends of this bill even brought Mir. H. s. Mobley. who has made a state ment, and had him state to me that in his Judgment the bill would be a good law, and that could quote him in so saying"
 The following items were added to the Insane Asylum appropriation bill: ': Fitting up dormitories, S20,0O0; cree. tion of annex to infirmary, $25,0OO; new laundry, s3O.ooo; hospital for pei 1agra patients (female), S25,O0O hos pital for pellagra patients (male), $25,. 900; repairs to old laundry building to convert 1t into dining rooms for about 1,2O0 patients, $S,000 The chief item Of increase was for general repair work on the building, from $20, 1000 to $30,000 Other increases were: Con. tingent fund, Sl,200 to s2,0O0 salary head baker, S1,20o to s1,S00; salaries seven male night nurses, S5.O4O to ST. 200 salaries female night nurses. $4.- 600 to $4.8o0.
 The protracted session of the house Tuesday night saved appropriation bills amounting to s2,500,00O, and made an extra or extended session un- necessary.
 Co Otis T. Wingo was a " 'oor of the legislature
 (.
 Y the general sp-