The weekly soliphone., 1915-04-30
TURN ON THE LIGHT.
,ltAsA

sas The investigation Q9 the DOCKS aiiu IVY x, 4
 to is causing people all over the state to
 t n and take notice The Investigating commee was annonted by the legislature on resoluuon passeu te last days of the session. The committee c0nsss oi
 three members Senator C. w. x Gaem ns cov o1 and Rep resentative U A. Gentry of Hampstead county me or icina committee appointed on resoution l1!ouuGt & in the senate by Senator Fure u tha inc work of the committee could not be 1nsned oue inc session. the committee reduced m numoer as
 matter of economy and it's work was ' of resolution to continue until thorough nvesugauon ol all the departments had been made After the adjourned the Hon. Jo Johnson of Sebastian county m m stituted action in the Pulaski chancery court to eno e committee from further investigation after the adjourn
 ent of the legislature The court upheld ms plea tac the legislature had power to continue this committee on the states pay roll after adjournment me court affirmed the decree of the chancellor ana the com mittee quit But acting within the scope ot ms autnor and in conformity as believe to the best interest of the state and the wishes of the taxpayers Gov nays issued an emergency proclamation authorizing the com mittee to continue it's Investigation and with that author ity it is now proceeding with the work
 We believe that very large majority ot the taxpay pay CTS of the state will commend Gov Hays for this act The committee reported irregularities in several ot the depart ments and fragrant violations of the law in the depart ment of education and in the office of the attorney gen. era To suppress the further work of the commlttee would be to leave the people in the dark to many other irregularities and violations of the law which are believed to exist and which have not yet been reached in the pro- cess of investigation We believe voice the wishes of the people when we say to the committee Turn on the light let no guilty man escape If the taxpayers of the state have been robbed, let the people know it.
 Politically Arkansas needs renovation and regen- eraton. Rottenness in politics has reached high tide and honest men disgusted. The governor himself should not be immune from the light of publicity m some matters that have been charged against him. For n- stance It has been charged that the governor by pre- election arrangement pledged to pardon Bob David son. Phillips county murderer in return for which he mary campaign in 1913 It is charged that Judge Motor the county judge of Phillips county held the vote of Phil lips at his disposal that Davidson, brothern-law of Judge Moor had been sentenced to the penentary for killing two men at Marvell and that trade made by which Hays to receive the vote of Phillips county if he would pardon Davidson. It is matter of history that early in his administration after his election gov ernor Hays DID pardon Davidson condition that he leave Phillips county and that Davidson then went into Prairie county and would have committed another murder but for the fact that he was himself killed before he could get in his deadly work An Investigating mttee with power to send for witnesses and put them under oath, might establish the truth fasy of this to the vndication that the investigation would give him. If it is true and his election the result of the alleged corrupt deal he ought to be impeached.
 Another charge involving the governors honor is the appointment of the board of state charities who is guilty of selling blind tiger liquor It has been charged and by reputable citizens that Mr. Suridge, the ap- pontee of the governor to this honorable and important position is not only blind tiger crook but that he is an old offender, has been indicted numerous times and that indictments are now hanging over him for this of fense An investigating committee to inquire into the
 truth or faslty Of this charge would vndicate the gOver nor if the charge is not true
 Still another charge against the governor is that dur ing the recent session of the legislature he used his nu to defeat the pure election bill introduced and passed in the senate and killed in the house. Is true not that the governor did this? If it is true he is unworthy of the support and respect of any democrat who stands for hon. est elections in Arkansas The bill intended to such cases as the alleged Moor-Hays deal in Phillips county and the alleged crookedness in Ponsett county involving the vote for senator in that county in the last primary election. It intended to put the curb on fraudulent baoting in democratic primary elections in Arkansas It was demanded by the last state democratic
 bill and report it for passage when the legislature met