The Newark journal., 1916-02-24

sion, they d1d not have any more au-
thority to audit anyones books.
Senator CARROTS Prophecies.
All the time while Senator Garrett
was endeayoring to stay on the pay
roll at $500 per day, he was using all
the efforts in his power to assist In
the sale of certain convict farm in
South Arkansas. If he wants his va
rious offers to secure assistance made
public, | will gladly give the informa-
ton. l did not object to anyone audit
ing my books; nor would | have OBJ
jected to this committee auditing my
books had they not stated publicly
several times, that they would put me
out of the governors race. I there
fore refused to permit them to con-
tinue their work in my office.
My Books Opened and Audited.
I at once offered to turn my books
over to the Arkansas Bankers Asso-
citation to audit, and had | had any
thing in my Office to cover up. | Ger,
tainly would not have proposed that
the Bankers Association make tie
audit. The Bankers Association re-
fused to do the work, and I asked the
Hon. George w Thornburgh to audit
my office, whose integrity no man
will question, as he is very promi-
nent member of the church; a promi-
nent member of the Masonic frater-
nifty, prominent member of the An
t-Saloon League, and a man whose
honesty and integrity is as good or
better than any member of the com
mittee which was appointed by the
Legislature. and which had said that
they would put me out of the gov
errors race,
Had | wanted TO cover up anything
that might have been wrong in my
office, certainly would nor have Sc
lected an honorable man like Col.
Thornburgh to audit same He agreed
TO do the work, and as matter OF
fairness to all concerned, and that no
question might be raised, he employ
ed the same accountants to audit my
books that had audited the other
offices. l attach hereto his letter,
which shows for itself:
"Messrs. Pike, Grofton d Co,
Memphis. Tenn.
Gentlemen: This will authorize
you to audit the books and accounts
of the office OF Hon Earle W. Hodges.
Secretary of State. with the under
standing that the work is to be done
by Messrs. L H Beebe and c. A.
Russell, the accountants who have re
Gently been auditing the books al
the State Capitol under the direction
of the legislative committee.
We shall expect a thorough inves-
tigation made, without partiality or
prejudice, and report made to the un-
dersigned
The matter of terms has been
agreed upon with Messrs Beebe and
Russell, and l shall expect you 10 go
to work at once and complete same at
the earliest possible moment
yours very truly.
GEO 4HORNBURGH.a
1t will be observed that he en-
ployed Messrs. Beebe and Russell to
audit my office, and they were the
ones that We're in the employ of this
Legislative committee. If they did
honest work for the legislative com
mittee, who can say that they would
not do honest work for the Hon
George Thornburgh? And what right
has this committee to question their
report when working under MI Thorn
burgh, when they. themselves, had
the same committee employed?
Col. Thornburgh's Report.
Messrs. Beebe and Russell took
UP the work in my office Immediately
and made the report TO the Hon
George Thornburgh on the 5th of Oc-
tober. The substance of this report
was published in the daily papers
soon thereafter. MIR. Thornburgh. in
commenting on this report made the