The Little River news., 1915-12-22
MIC RAE REPLIES
 IN STATEMENT
Candidate for Governor Makes Reply to Hodges Opening Address.
 Campaign Warming Up.

Little Rock, Dec. 20.-(Special )-- Earle ". Hodges has studied the bi- ble to little purpose" states Col. T. C. McRae, in a reply to assertions made by MT Hodges in the opening speech of his campaign for Governor, delivered recently at Forrest City. when he likens himself to the Sweet Singer of Israel David was prudent, cautious, magnanimous, brave and truthful. My opponent does nct in dicate that he has any of these char acteristics."
 In his statement, Col. McRae devot- es the most of his time to charges made by MT. Hodges: his having been attorney fer New York holders of bonds issued by the state in an effort to collect for the same his having op- posed a bank guaranty act, his record on prohibition, and his having served as a member of the liquidating com mittee of the State National bank of Little Rock, and at the same time he lambasts Secretary of State Hodges for his refusal to permit an audit of his office by the legally authorized agents of the state.
 Col McRae points out that the bonds which he sought to have the State pay were nonHolford bonds which had been substituted for by the state fiscal agent in New York with void securities. The State board, con- posed of Gov. Dan W. Jones, Secretary of State Alex c. Hull, State Auditcr Clay Sloan, and State Treasurer T. E. Little, virtually acknowledged the justice of the claim, but declined to issue new state bonds for them on the grounds that this board could only refund existing bonds, the ones in controversy having been destroyed by a state burning beard. An effort was then legally made to fierce a payment of the state bonds, which the state re- cords showed to be the property of | those who had surrendered them to the burning board The Federal court upheld the contentious of the State Debt Board, so far as it's powers are concerned, and also as to the justice of the claim. suggesting that the mat ter be taken before the legislature. A 1 bill was introduced there but failed to pass and there the connection of Col. McRae with the claim ended.
 q have lived to little purpose" says Col McRae, eff such reckless charges can injure my professional in tegrity."
 The present banking law is worthy of a complete trial, and it will amply protect the people of the state with olt a bank guaranty act, according to Col, McRae. He declares that he is not opposed to a guaranty act which will require the stockholders of a bank to be responsible for it's depos- it's. but he does not oppose an act which will make them responsible for those of another bank. Col McRae states that he did appear before leg islative committee and spoke against loosely drawn and i'll advised guar anty bill, which he believes was not fer the best interest of all the people | of the state. He is in favor of en- couraging capital, rather thaan fright ening it from the state, and in in increasing the public confidence in banks, rather than driving money in tc hiding places, and through the pro- posed guaranty acts shake confidence in the states banking institutions.
 Referring to his stand on prohibit ion and his failure to put the saloon out of the Congressional cloak room, Col McRae states that the records cf ] Congress will show that he always | voted for it's removal and while he was member of Congress this part of the government voted in favor of it's abolition, but the Senate refused to concur.
 Col. McRae has clearly outlined a very strcng platform, and promisen to take these issues before the people. preferably in a joint campaign where i he can put them directly before his opponents.
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 Warming Order.