The Newark journal., 1916-08-17

uiilVoo III pei mus a lIJGlC W.
terie of people to throw acclaim
around his neck and lead him
up to the altar of sacrifice. This
have declined to do and will
as long as | am in the Cover
nor's office.
The mothers, wives, daugh-
tiers and men have been work
ing, pleading and praying for
years and years for statewide
prohibition. Many people of
the state have clamoured for
this law. During my admins
tration | have given it to you.
| trust that you will use it to
the advantage of the entire citi-
zenship of the state. | preven-
ted from becoming a law the
infamous race horse gambling
bill. | have been criticised a
great deal IN many ways. Was
criticised on account of veto
ing this bill. | did what |
thought was right. 1t has been
charged that | hesitated. That
IS true. | am glad that | did. A
man who cannot afford to hest
tate about the grave and inn
portant affairs of life should
not be entrusted to public duty.
While | was criticised for the
method adopted, that does not
amount to anything so the re-
suits were obtained. The meth
cd makes no difference. You
haven't got it. Would those
who have criticised me have
vetoed the bill? If so, would
that have achieved any more
for the people than | did and,
if not, while they criticise me,
why do they not state they
would have approved it? This
would have placed them in a
better attitude.
| am in favor of better
schools. | believe in an edu-
Gated citizenship. | believe in
those things which will en-
tighten our people and give
them better conception of
life, but at this time | am bit
terly opposed to the proposed
amendment to the Constitution.
which provides for an increase
of the school tax from seven
to twelve mills. | have the
greatest admiration and SYM
Dathy for the school teachers.
They are doing a great work
IN trying to teach and train the
children for citizens, but while
that is true, | have the greatest
sympathy for the one and three
quarters million more people
who are called opon to pay the
taxes. Do you people know who
are advocating the adoption of
this amendment? If you do not
| will tell you. 1t is few of
the school teachers backed by
the American Book Company.
Do you find the taxpayers of
the state opening up headquar-
tiers at Little Rock for the pur-
pose of waging a campaign to
secure the adoption of this
amendment? | say no. It has
been only a few months ago
since the Teachers Association
not the taxpayers associa-
ton of the state-pledged to
one man One Thousand Dol
lars to go out and campaign
for the adoption Of this amend
ment. Can you find where the
taxpayers of the state have
pledged one penny towards
the expenses of any man to adj
vocate its adoption? Let me
give you a little history right
here. In 1914 just before the
petitions for this amendment
were being circulated call
was made from some depart
ment in Little Rock for meet
ing of the school directors of
the state. This had never been
heard of before and they sue
ceeded in getting a few of the
directors from some of the dis
tricts and and this proposed
amendment was promulgated.
That was the last of the meet
ing Of the School Directors of
the State until just before the
State Democratic Convention
convened in Little Rock in 1916
and then another meeting was
called and a few directors
came again. Out of the thou
sands of directors in the state,
one small room would have
Accommodated all who were
present. This meeting was
callad for thp DurnoSa of in