The log cabin Democrat., 1915-03-09

oS'Sioi AioUIo iolcI IIle NctO message was sent to the house. * * * *
 Little Rock, March 9.-Suddenly changing his mind as to his action upon one of the most bitterly con- tested measures by the present legis- lature, Governor George w. Hays at 9:1O o'clock last night sent a message to the house undertaking to veto the Sawyer bill permitting pari-mutuel betting on horse races. Those favor ing the bill declare it has become a law regardless of the governors ac- tion, as his veto message did not reach the legislature until about four hours after the end of the five days during which it was in his possession.
 Gov. Hays denies that he signed the bill and declares he vetoed it about 4 o'clock. In his message he said that while he realizes he is digging his political grave" his conscience would not permit him to sign bill permit ting gambling.
 The following well-known citizens were present in the governors office in the afternoon and made affidavit last night that they saw Governor Hays sign the Hot Springs racing bill, which he later vetoed:
 Capt. R. R. Rice, Warner.
 Geo. R. Bedding, Hot Springs.
 Frank Kitchens, Helena.
 Judge E A. Rolfe, Hot Springs.
 Thad Bradsher, member State Board Railroad Commissioners.
 All day Governor Hays had been besieged by powerful politicians who demanded that he sign the bill. He received many ministers and laymen, who were equally insistent that he veto the measure. In hundreds of churches of the state sermons were preached Sunday. In Little Rock the members were urged to telephone Governor Hays and protest against the signing of the bill. In out-of- town they were requested to tele- graph, and all during the day mes senger boys carried yellow and white envelopes to him by the thousand.
 It was insisted by many attorneys that the bill became law at 4 o'clock Monday afternoon, which is five days to the hour from the time the bill was delivered, Sunday not counted, with out the signature of the executive. This was denied by eminent jurists, who insist that in making legal calcu- lations of days they must be full days, and the first partial day of delivery does not count.
 The faith of those promoting the parimutuel bill was so strong in the governor that racing club was or ganized in Hot Springs and an appli- cation for a charter was ready for filing with the secretary of state im- mediately after the bill went on rec ord as a law. These promoters had already begun to make plans for a race meet in Hot Springs, at Oaklawn track, the finest race course in the southwest.
 They had gone so far as to discuss at length with Governor Hays the personnel of the racing commission, which should have charge of the pari- mutuel racing in Arkansas; the names of George Bedding and Simon Cooper of Hot Springs, F. F. Kitchens of Helena, R. R. Rice of Warner and several others were placed before him from which to make his selections. Capt. Rice was formerly one of the foremost racing men in the United States, but for the past 15 years has lived in retirement on his large Ar kansas river bottom plantation.
 The bill passed each house by a majority of one vote. It legalized racing in 40 of the 75 counties under commission of three members, to