The Dermott news. (Dermott, Ark.) 1910-1977, 1916-02-17
HODGES SCORES
UNFAIR TACTICS
BROUGh'S METHODS EXPOSED
ISSUES SQUARELY UP TO
THE PEOPLE.
Abuse OF the Country Press

DR.. Brough has not only tried to
cast reflection upon my good name,
but he has thrown aspersions al such
men as Col. George Thornburgh and
at Col. w. w Folsom of Hope
l.. d. Freeman OF the Pine Bluff
Commercial, Col. w E Decker Of
Fort Smith. VIM. Greenwood OF Paris,
Capt c. c. Colhurn of Ozark. w A
Moffatt of Monticello. T. G. Funk OF
Rogers. Lovick Pound of Danville
Geo. w. Mason of FL Dorado and
many others engaged In the newspa-
per business In Arkansas by stating
for a pittance the entire country
press of Arkansas has sold out 10 me
These men have lived their lives
in Arkansas and have done much to
ward the upbuilding OF the state
men who have raised their children
here and who will die and be buried
beneath the soil of Arkansas The
FL Dorado Times said: We deny tae
charge and resent such insinuation
against the country press az not only
unjust. but an insult and a travesty
against their honor"
Books Taken From Old State House
He insnuated that | WAS in some
way connected with the theft of some
books from the state library. In the
old State House. although he makes
no direct charge. He knew full well
that ! went before the Pulaski Coun-
ty Grand Jury. and that ii was upon
my testimony an indictment VAS re-
turned. | have always been willing
TO give my testimony ut a trial OF the
case. but IL the young man has not
been further prosecuted, the fault -
not mine. az the prosecution is In the
hands OF the court officers
Same Auditors in Ny once az in
Other State Offices
When the Legislature OF 1915 con-
vened. II appointed Senator George
w Garrett. Representative Monroe
Smith. L. A. Gentry and others, a
committee to audit tho books OF the
state officials TINS committee. or any
member thereof. did not do any per.
sonal work in any OF the state depart
ments. They made a contract With
Messrs Pike Crofton CO. OF Mem
phis to do the expert work In gong
over the books of the various state
officials
Had this committee wanted TO do
The right thing they could have EN-
ployed sufficient accountants TO do all
the work when the Legislature WAS IN
session and II would have been much
less expense for the taxpayers OF the
state; but forty days after the Legis.
lature had adjourned. the three mem
bers OF the committee were hanging
around tne state house. receiving data
from the two accountants and gty
out exciting reports and confidential
Information about the various state Of
'hcsrs, In an effort ~ kick up enough
dust to Justify them remaining on the
Job II $500 per day until Christmas
or possibly until after the next Leg
islature convened
At the end OF the forty days, the
Supreme Court decided that this com
mittee had no further authority TO con
tinue their work. as they had stayed
the time provided by the constiti,
ton After this Supreme Court deci.
sion. they did not have any more au-
thority to audit anyones books
Senator 0arrett's Prophecies.
All the time while Senator Garrett
was endeAvoring TO stay on the pas
toll at $500 per day. he VAS using all
the efforts in his power TO assist In
the sale OF certain convict farm IN
South Arkansas. II he wants his va
rious offers 10 secure assistance made
public, | Will gladly give the iSforma
ton did not object To anyone audit
ing my books, nor would | have OBJ
jected to this committee auditing nv
books had they not stated publicly
several times. that they would put III
out OF the governors race. there
fore refused 10 permit them TO con
tnue their work in my Office
NY Books Opened and Audited.
al once offered to turn my books
over TO the Arkansas Bankers Asso-
citation TO audit and had had any
thing In 10y Office TO cover up. | Ger.
tainly would not have proposed that
the Bankers Association make tho
audit. The Bankers Association re
fused TO do the work. and | asked the
Hon. George w Thornhurgh 10 audit
my ONCE. whose integrity no man
will question. as he is very promi.
nent member of the church; a promi-
nent member OF the Masonic frate-.
nifty, prominent member OF the An
ti.Saloon League and man whoss
honesty and integrity is as good or
better than any member OF the com
fnittee which was appointed by the
Legislature. and which had said that
they would put me out OF the gov.
ernor's race,
Had | wanted to cover up ANYTHING
that might have been wrong in my
office, certainly would not have Sc
lected an honorable man like Col