The Spectator., 1915-03-12

ihS DLl NllHln CHe tlulS pTeSCTlDeQ Dy the Constitution?
 That is the question that must be determined by the courts. Speaker Sawyer sustained point of order that he did not do so, and that the bill had become law without his signature.
 The bill reached the governor at 4:29 D. m. Tuesday, March ?, and tho Constitution prescribes that it must be returned to the house within five days" thereafter. Excluding Sunday, and counting five days of 24 hours each, the time would have expired at 4:29 D. m. Monday. Another construc- tion is that parts of days are not counted, and that the five days limit expired Saturday night, after which the bill became law. The veto mes- sage, showing that the bill had been vetoed at 4 D. m. Monday was deliv- cred to the house at 9:10 p. m. Mon- day.
 The report was current about the capitol, and was sent throughout the country, that the bill was signed at about 4 50, and this is testified to by number of witnesses whe were pres ent with the governor at the time. This the governor positively denies, saying that he did not sign it except when he vetoed it. Contrary to the usual custom, the bill carries the gov ernor's signature, and above it the Maroh s, 1915, at p. m."
 The veto message follows:
 MT Speaker-I beg to report to your honorable body that have this day withheld my approval, and have seen fit to veto House Bill No. 25S, by Mir. Sawyer, for the following reasons:
 ''I realize my lasting obligations to the many friends who have pushed this measure through both houses. Some of them have assisted them very materially with this legislature. To them 1 owe much for past personal and political favors; to them I am profoundly grateful Ordinarily I would like to look at this matter from
 
 help the men who have helped me. Naturally We are all grateful to our friends.
 This, however, is matter of such grave importance to my state, and of such tremendous import to the future of my people, that I must cast into the background all desires that I might have to advance the interests, or to promote the welfare, of my friends, and meet the issue face to face. A stupendous duty now con- fronts me; will not shirk the respon- sibility.
 "Only few weeks past we securet the adoption of statewide prohibi tion measure-a long step in the right direction. Now, right on its heels comes before us law to permit bet ting on horse races by the operation of pari-mutual machines, which is nothing more nor less than gam bling device-a long step in the wrong direction.
 "l have only this to say: No act of mine, either while in the governors office or in the .vate walks of life, will ever legalize any form of gam bling. nor will l ever, by my signature, permit gambling machines to be ope- rated in Arkansas. even though it might mean the success of our state fair-an, too, l am a strong advocate of the state fair. and shall lend my every effort to promote it's success.
 This is the greatest question with which l have ever been confronted realize, too, that in vetoing this bill am probably sealing my own political doom, and digging my own political grave. l do know, though, that when the questions of right and wrong are both placed in the balance that to my mind there is but one course to pur- sue. l know, too, that in vetoing this measure I am but responding to that still small voice" that within mo dwells. and that will leave behind me legacy that will say to my children, and to my children's children, your father was the keeper of his own con- science"
 House Bill No. 25S, by Sawyer of Garland, is vetoed.
 "ReSpectfully suhrpittad