The Sentinel=record., 1915-03-10
A STATEMENT.

Regardless of whatever statements may emanate from tho chief eXecu- tive of the state relative 10 his atti- tude to the racing bill, Governor Hays 1 did state positively on more than one occasion that he would sign the bill, and the whole of his attitude through out the seven weeks fight waged at Little Rock by the Hot Springs sup pOrters of the measure was that of driving them to his bidding in other matters through the force of his hay- ing the last say in the matter Of the race bill after it had passed.
 There is here l find an erroneous impression relative to the matter of naming the commissioners n an uu- derstanding with the governor the morning before the bill was signed. and later vetoed. No Hot Springs man urged the appointment of him self or his friends to the detriment of the bill Governor Hays agreed at 10 o'clock Monday morning that he would appoint Captain R R. Rice to tIe siX-year term on the board: and that he would appoint Frank Kitchens to the four-year term on tle board. Friends of another well known pOli- tician of north Arkansas urged his ap- pointment for the short term which would have left Hot Springs without representation, and then it was that, believing if any Hot Springs man could secure place it would be George R. Bedding, his name was offered and urged, and assented to by Governor lHays-and it is a fact that these three commissioners were agreed on by Governor Hays.
 As in any matter of such vital im- portance as this, there are many rumors, and any rumOr that dissen- sion occasioned by the candidacy of MT Bedding existed, is an injustice to a man who worked loyally night and day for the interests of Hot Springs. The name of the writer was never mentioned in connection with a com missionership If there was any other candidacy from Hot Springs besides that of Mir Bedding it was when at t:3O o'clock Monday afternoon Colo mel w. j. Little submitted the name of his son, Walter Little, for a com missionership, but later when there was doubt about the bill being act ually signed, withdrew that candi- dacy.
 The racing bill is a law according to the opinions of leading attorney of Little Rock. George M. Rose said yesterday after a bill was signed the constitutional requirements were met and it was law, and that a subsequent | changing of the signature of gov ernor would be equal to giving him | the power to veto not bill, but q law. which power ne does not have. There are many things in connec | ton with this campaign that will he related later and which will prove t' the people of Hot Springs at least | the misrepresentation that Governor | Hays engaged in, and was a party tC | by his acQuiescence. l do not think Governor Hays will face to face tell Captain R. R. Rice that he did not in tend to sign the bill, There are other good and loyal friends of Hot Springs | in eastern Arkansas who would not | permit Governor Hays to mislead the people into belief that he was unmind full of the promises made when de mands were accompanying them.
 Judge Rolfe of Forrest City, now al the Majestic hotel in this city, was present Monday morning when Gov ernor Hays made the statement he would sign the bill that afternoon and when the commissioners were | agreed on.
 Arkansas has come to strange period in history when a governor may make political demands such as 1 were made by Governor Hays, and may make statements such as were made by him, and then later repudi ate pledges and promises and friends | and get away with the situation through such a statement as this gov ernor issued to the press Tuesday morning. His elasticity of conscience political demands.
 Over the corpse or Hot springs hopes and ambitions lies strewn some little achievement of a legislative ma ture to which the governor may claim credit for himself but in his inner most heart, if there the semblance of truth is left, he knows beyond doubt or question that he has betrayed his friends and abused them in such d manner that he may not ever look them squarely in the eye again, at least until some retribution is made. DOUGLAS HOTCHKISS.