The weekly soliphone., 1915-03-12
THE WEEKLY soLPHoNE PARAGoULD ARK

SULlPHUNE, fAhhUUULU, hhh.,
nit betting on horse races by the
operation of pari-mutuel machines,
which is nothing more nor less than
a gambling device-a long step in
the wrong direction
81 have only this to say: No act
of mine, either while in the COVER
nor's office or in the private walks
of life, will ever legalize any form
of gambling; nor will l ever by my
signature permit gambling machines
to be operated in Arkansas, even
though it might mean the success Of
our state fair. And, too, l am a
strong advocate of the state fair, and
shall lend my every effort to pro
mote its success.
This is the greatest question with
which | have ever been confronted.
I realize, too, that in yetoing this
political doom and digging my own
political grave. | do not 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 pursue. / know,
too, that in vetoing this measure /
am but responding to that still small
voice that within me dwehs, and
that | will leave behind me a legacy
that will say to my children and toI
my children's children, Your faith
err was the keeper of his own con-
science"
House bill No 25S, by Sawyer
of Garland, is vetoed. Respectfully
sumbitted. GEO. w. HAYS,
Governor.
After numerous conferences with
friends yesterday afternoon, the gov
ernor signed the racing bill. Three
minutes later he changed his mind
message, saying he could not posi-
bly, approve it. After another con-
ference with friends, he stuck thei
bill and veto message in his pocket
and went home.
The following we'll known citizensI
were present in the governors office
yesterday afternoon and made affi-I
davit last night that they saw Gov.
Hays sign the Hot Springs racing
bill, which he later vetoed:
Capt r. R. Rice, Warner.
Geo. R. Belding, Hot Springs.
Frank Kitchens, Helena.
Judge E. A. Rolfe, Hot Springs.
Thad Bradsher, member state
board railroad commissioners.
All day Gov. Hays had been be-
sieged by powerful politicians, who
demanded that he sign the bill. He
received many minister's 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
Gov. Hays and protest against the
signing of the bill. In out of town
churches they were requested to
telegraph, and all during the day.
messenger boys carried yellow and
white envelopes to him by the thou
sand.
1t was insisted by many attorneys
that the bill become a law at A !
o'clock Monday afternoon, which isl
five days to the hour from the time
the bill was delivered, Sunday not
counted, without the signature of
the executive. This was denied by
eminent jurists, who insist that IN
making legal calculations of days
they must be full days, and the gt"at
partial day of delivery does not count.
The faith of those promoting thel
pari mutuel bill was so strong in the
governor that a racing club was or
ganized in Hot Springs ami an ap-
plication for a charter was .eady for
filing with the secretary Of state M
medately after the bin wenl ON rec
ord as a law. These promoters he'd
already begun to make plans for a |
race meet in Hot SPRINGS a. Oa5layn
tract, the finest race cougsa in the
southwest.
They had gone so far as to discuss
at length with GOV. Hays the per