The Prescott daily news., 1916-01-13
MACHINE POLITICS
 WILL DOMINATE
Support of Col. McRae Claimed by All Three Aspirants in Gu bernatOrial Race-Withdraw. al Biggest Surprise.
By Clio Harper.

by tllo Harper.
 Little Rock, Jan. 13.-One thing has been discovered more uncertain than the weather-and that is Arkansas politics.
 Six months ago, and later, no poli- tlclan was in style unless he was be- ing mentioned" for Governor. The weedlng out process continued until the field was narrowed down to a pos slble seven or eight, and finally, as late as last week, there seemed no doubt whatever that four names would be submitted to the primary. But Dame Politics proposed more exclu- sive game even than that, and one morning the Democracy awakened to find that 1t must choose it's next gov ernor from three candidates, former Congressman Thos. c. McRae having withdrawn. It was the biggest sur prise of the whole campaign, and the first development since "Wes" Crock cit announced that he would not make the race, but had accepted the posi- tion of secretary of the Rivers and Harbors Committee of Congress.
 The dope-sheet are being revised in consequence, and the Strength of Col. McRae being apportined out among the three remaining candi- dates. Each claims the retirement of the Prescott statesman will help his cause. Dr. Brough and MT. Hodges are especially optimistic, and are pre- pairing to make the next three months the most vigorous campaign that has been waged in years for the guberna- torial nomination. Campaign head quarters are open with staffs of man. agers in charge, and while the chiefs are "stumping the state" the head quarters are sowing the state thick with literature. Judge L. c. Smith alone has not opened headquarters in Little Rock, declaring that he does not see the necessity of doing so, and that he will conduct his campaign from his office in Dewitt.
 The statements issued by Senator J. M. Futrell, Gov. c. W. Hays, and Col. McRae, in declining to enter or retiring from the race for governor have contained much food for earnest thought on the part of the people. MT. McRae and Mr. Futrell have es- pecially condemned conditions which have arisen during recent years mak- ing it practically impossible for can didate to make a race for governor and stay within the limitations of eX- pense fixed by the Corrupt Practices Act. In this respect, the direct pri- mary system does not seem to have given much in the way of improve ment over the old convention system. Tn fact, there are some good Demo- cratic leaders who,-just to themsel- ves.-would be in favor of returning to the convention system. But that will never be done, for the pendulum
 
 is swinging more and more toward the completest displacement of delegated power that can be exercised by the people direct.
 Now that the Jeff Davis machine, for several years one of the most powerful factors in Arkansas politics has been shattered, other machines are in process of building. Whoever wins this contest will have among his friends who elected him the elements of machine that will dominate the politics of the state for at least the next four years. A machine can be only as strong as its engineer. The supporters of MT. Brough. oA Mir. Hodges, or MT. Smith, which ever wins. will become the nucleus about which the new machine will be built up.
 Machine politics." while too often manipulated for the advantage of the few, is not necessarily malignant. Just as a celebrated economist said there are "good and bad trusts" so are there bad political machines seek ing only individual gain, and good po- litical machines that effectually or ganize the benefcent clements in so- ciety for the advancement of the pub lie welfare. 1t must be admitted, however, that the "good political ma chine," is largely a figment of an