The Brinkley argus., 1916-02-25
'HODGES SCORES
 UNFAIR TACTICS
THOUGHTS METHODS EXPOSED ISSUES SQUARELY UP TO
 THE PEOPLE.
Abuse of the Country Press

but he has thrown aspersions at 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, Wm. Greenwood of Paris, Capt. c. c. Colburn of Ozark, W. A. Moffatt of Monticello, B. c. Funk of Rogers, Lovick Pound of Danville, Geo. W. Mason of Ell 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 to 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 Ell Dorado Times said: We deny the charge and resent such insinuation against the country press as not only unjust, but an insult and travesty against their honor"
 Books Taken From Old State House.
 He insinuated 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 I went before the Pulaski Coun- ty Grand Jury, and that it was upon my testimony an indictment was re turned. I have always been willing to give my testimony at a trial of the case, but 1T the young man has not been further prosecuted. the fault IS not mine, as the prosecution is in the hands of the court officers.
 Same Auditors in My Office as in
 Other State Offices.
 When the Legislature of 1915 con- vened, it appointed Senator George w. Garrett, Representative Monroe Smith, U A. Gentry and others, a committee to audit the books of the state officials. This 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 & Go. 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 em ployed sufficient accountants to do all the work when the Legislature was IT session and it 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 lne state house, receiving data from the two accountants and giving out exciting reports and confidentia information about the various state of fcers, in an effort to kick up enough dust to justify them remaining on the job at $500 per day until Christmas or possibly until after the next Leg islature convened.
 At the end of the forty days, thu 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 constitu tion. After this Supreme Court deci sion, they did not have any more au thority to audit anyone's books.
 senator Garrett's Prophecies.
 All the time while Senator Garrett was endeavoring to stay on the pa, roll at $500 per day, he was using al the efforts. in This power to assist 1T the sale of a Ecertain convict farm il South Arkansas. If he wants his va rious offers to Nsecure assistance made public. Twill gladly give the informa ton. I did~1ot| object to anyone audit ing my booRs; nor would I have oo jected to this loommittee auditing m. books had they not stated public,, several times, that they would put m 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.
 at once offered to turn my books over to the Arkansas Bankers Asso citation to audit, and had I had any thing in my office to cover up, I cer 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. Thornburgh to audi my office. whose integrity no mar will question, as he is a very promi nent member of the church; a promi nent member of the Masonic frater nifty, prominent member of the An ti-Saloon League. and man whose honesty and integrity is as good Q, 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 ernor's race!
 Had I wanted to cover up anything that might have been wrong in my office, certainly would not have SC lected an honorable man like Col Thornburgh to audit same. He agreed to do the work, and as a matter ot fairness to all concerned, and that ne question might be raised, he employ ed the same accountants to audit my books that had audited the other offices I attach hereto his letter which shows for itself:
 "Messrs. Pike, Crofton & Co.,.
 Memphis, Tenn.