The Sentinel=record., 1915-03-06
SUPREME JOY IS
 TURNED ID GLOOM
REPORT GOVERNOR HAD SIGNED RAGING BILL CAUSED CITIZENS
 TO START CELEBRATION.
Error is Corrected and Statement Made That Little Rock Correspond. ents Got Agricultural Bills Mixed.

shock that left it stunned, which, in the brief space of time that the incl dent held full sway, eclipsed anything of it's kind the city has experienced io years
 Shortly after $ o'clock word was re- ceived over the Western Union wire from the manager of the Little Rock office of that company, that Governor Hays had signed the State Fair Com mission bill It was good news to the local office which, like the newspa pers, the Business Mems League and the telephone company. had for the past week, beem bombarded daily with scores of anxious queries for iu- formation on this subject. The first news was followed by a wire stating that Little Rock spondents were flashing the news 10 their out-ottowa papers.
 The SentinelRccord learned of the reported official signature to the measure that means -o much for Hot Springs The Associated Press wire for tAe night service had opened and the operator in The SentineLRecord office was requested to query the Ga zette if the report was correct. In a few minutes the answer came back. "Ycs and the news seemed to be true.
 That however. was not the only confirmation received, for this was followed a few minutes later by a buL letin over the Associated Press wire, which was as follows:
 Little Rock, Ark, March 5.-Gov- ernor Hays late this afternoon signed the bill egaizing horse racing and the operation of pari-mutuel betting machines. This will allow the re sumption of racing at Hot Springs"
 That seemed 10 be the final news necessary 10 confirm the first report
 There has never been a rumor in Hot Springs that seemed 10 travel with the speed that this one did. I1 less than ten minutes. it seemed every one in the city had heard the report. In business houses along Cen tral avenue the news was received with shouts of ioy Business men met Ou tie avenue and coneratuated one another Bulletins were posted on the windows Of many business e-tab. lishments In the moving picture theaters the news was flashed on the curtain, and in one house. although if 1 was late in the afternoon. the ap- rau9e was so great and the cheers so strong that the brief statement stopped the show
 At the Arlington, Eastman. Majestic and other hotels the news quickly spread among the guests. Some of those who were contemplating leaving l made arransements 10 continue their stay and gave notice to clerks that they would desire their rooms for a 1 period longer than stated on arrival saying they hoped to. remain for the races.
 Hot Springs was happy-supremcly 1arpr
 The sentue, Record answered more telephone calls in that brief space of l time than it had ever done before in years on any one subject So great was the desire on the part of those who had heard the report that Cen tral' at various times put tmee and four anxious ones on the wire at the same time Business men telcpboned the news to their families and re ceiyed the happy congratulation of wife and children More women wanted to know if the report wa true than ever before, and their in- terest is no reflection on the natural inquisitiveuess the fair sex Is charged with possessing. either. It was a re port that interested the entire citizen ship Not one single tone of regret was heard. Every one hoped that it was true. All desired to shout their joy It was immense.
 But "in the meantime as the funny supplement states. The SentI- nellRecord had succeeded in getting into communication with parties in Little Rock who, it was known, would be in possession of the details and To and behold. the rumor was falsel
 It appears that newspaper core spondents had gotten two agricultural bills confused There was one meas ure concerning one of the agriculural colleges which, it had been reported, there were doubts a to whether the governor would sign Governor Hays attached his signature to the measure late yesterday afternoon and the news went forth that his eXcellency had signed "the agricultural bill." Cor respondents jumped to the conclusion that "the agricultural bill" was the State Fair Commission measure and that is how the error started.
 For over an hour the "Joys" held full sway. The "Glooms." which had been romancing around for the past few days. when the first report wasl received were sent scurrying to cover, and the "Joys held the center of the resort stage In fact. the Joys scampered all over the place Then came the change. Slowly but