The weekly soliphone., 1915-04-16
PATHOS AND POLITICS.

m It is seldom ndeed that tragedy enters into the life of public official who has conscientiousy stven to be manly upright and honorable in his political reatons
 Governor Hays is accused of wrongdolng. Even more
 he is accused of perjury It is protested that as an ndlVd
 ual he has betrayed himself into the hands ot despoes
 that as governor he has permitted the official emne to be used as buffer for the realization ot base amblons by corrupt men. The Governor by his own admlsslons
 is the boon companion of Frank Kitchens treasurer or Phillips county and Helena politician of no small force
 He is known to have been identified with Joe Lyons and Lyons the real foam the beer in Arkansas George w. Hays is known to have received deegalon or poll ticians headed by A. J. Walls chairman of the demo- cratic state central committee, and w. Hutton snef1 of Pulaski county This reception was extended at the home of Gov Hays The men asked the ch1et executive to "get some action on the primary blll The primary bill failed of passage at later date 1t IS positively a
 serted that the Governor connved for the defeat ot this measure The primary bill was offensive to Frank k1tch
 ems and others whose hope of continued tenure Tn pubic office rests entirely upon their ability to manipulate cleo tons It may may not be of concern to the manhood of Arkansas to know that the primary bill alluded to was drawn up by committee of gentlemen appointed by the last state convention for this very purpose When the Governor and the legislature killed this measure they went contrary to the expressed wishes of the partte democratic party The Governor is democrat, for he says A. J. Walls is chairman ot the democrat party He is relative of Joe T. Robinson. These good democrats are all honorable gentlemen in the eyes ot Gov Hays He associates with them, plans legislation with them receives them at his home; extends to them the couesies of his reception ha his cigars his dining room, and makes them known to his family The Gov ernor likes hem respects them believes in their ideals of civil government He acts upon their advice in mat ters affecting the interests of Arkansas voters and Arkan sas taxpayers He corruption Tn them because he shares with them the responsibilities for shaping the destinies of the commonwealth G. w. Hays is under obligations to Frank Kitchens. This fact is sworn to by R. R. Rice who insists the Governor told him Chair man Walls under oath states that the Governors wishes to have measure passed doing away with the state charities board and confe1ing upon committee of three men authority to look after all state charities was carried out He further states that the day before this bill up for consideration the Governor told him to 'get busy with friends of the racing bill and tell them that if they didn't pass the chalse bill there would be no racing b even if they succeeded in getting the ing bill through the legislature George Bedding, head of the Hot Springs Business Mems League swears that Sheriff Hutton, Chairman Walls and others told him they were committee from the Governor come to in form him that the friends of the racing bill must kill the primary election measure and pass the Governors com mission measure the Governor would veto the racing bil Here we have the statement of personal and political associates of Governor Hays that triangular pact had been cOnsummated whereby friends Ot gamb-
 ling in Arkansas to unite their forces in the task of killing an honest election measure and ramphng rough shod upon the democratic state conventions mandates Also these gamblers to lobby with legislators for the creation of commission vestng Tn Governor Hays authority to appoint commission to administer all state charities The charities bill passed Upon this commission the Governor appointed State Auditor L. L. Coffman, but painstakng was the legislature in sec ing that nothing but good should hold office that confirmation of this appointment was denied Therefore, the Governor withdrew the name ot Cottman and ap- pointed Senator Raney. It IS affirmed that the Governor told friends that Raney strong with the prohibition
 ists and, therefore, this appointment would overcome the i'll effects of his signing the racing bill But getting back to the triangular deal Sworn statements convict the Governor of having obbed for the passage of the charities commission b and for the defeat of the pure election measure. Those who united with the Governor for the defeat of these the advocates O
 legalzng gambling in this state, and therefore, they may be properly characterized the gambling element In re- for such favors the Governor it understood was to approve the gambling bill Standing out against the testimony of half dozen men who swear positively the Governor had agreed to approve the gambling bill is the lonely denial of the Governor The situation, there fore resolves itself into question of veracty between