The Newark journal., 1916-08-17
COU. Hays Principal
Speaker at Big Picnic
(Gontiued from page u

iihSi >iiSN5 Illt COfilltllDItG re-
commended that the warrants
OF the state be accepted at a
discount of eight per cent per
annum, to be redeemable dur
ing tire year 1914. This ar
rangement was made and from
that time on we had no furth-
er trouble in securing bids for
the supplying of the institu-
tons above referred to at reas-
enable prices. This one thing
saved the state anywhere from
seventy-five to one hundred
thousand dollars.
In 1914 | called meeting of
all the various interests of the
state, after the terrible war
broke out in Europe, when the
country was almost in despair
and gloom, for the purpose of
discussing a better method of
living at home and feeding
ourselves. AS a result of this
meeting what is known as "The
Profitable Sarming Campaign"
was inaugurated, and the peo-
pie Of the state were advised
to diversity their FARMING. AS a
further result Of this fact, the
greatest crops ever raised in
the state of Arkansas were
raised in 1915.
During the year 1914. before
the war broke out in Europe,
we inaugurated a plan to adj
Yertlse the states resources at
the Panama-Pacific Interna-
tional Exposition. After the
war came on we were met
with many difficulties. The leg
islature was asked to make an
appropriation for this great en-
terprise and came within one
vote of so doing, but notwith-
standing this failure, with a
few loyal ard patriotic people
OF the state we erected a build
ing and exhibited the resour-
ees Of the state in a reasonably
intelligent way, receiving more
awards than any other state in
the Union for the variety we
had at the exposition. Arkan-
sas IS retarded in its progress
IN many ways. Principally on
account of the lack of capital.
We have millions and millions
Of acres of wild and uncultivat-
rich land that would be pro
ductive if pat in state of cul-
ovation, to say nothing of her
resources, that would
bring the state to the front if.
properly developed. We have
between a million and a half.
and a million and three-quart-
ers population, with an area of
approximately thirty-six mil
lion acres Of land, with only
about five million acres in an
improved state of cultivation.
If this could be tripled orquad-
rupled, think of the immense
amount of revenue we would
have, besides the employment
Of labor which is unemployed
at this time.
At the time | was elected
your Governor, the state. by
reason of eXtrayagant appro-
had incurred an in
debtedness of approximately
@hree-quarters of a million do
lars. This was serious condi-.
lon.State warrants were being
discounted at an unreasonable
rate OF interest. all of the state
nStltutlonSWere hampered and
supplies could not be purchas-
ed Tor them at less than TWEEN
.y-tlVe to forty per cent in ex-
cess OF what should have been
paid. | promised the people
mat, II WAS elected Governor
would endeavor to. bring
about better conditions and re-
lleVe the state of this embar-
rassment. This | have tried to
do and that, too, without rails
ing the rate of taxation or in
creasing in any way the bur
dens of the people. | promised
the year 1914 that if
the Legislature would stand
by me on economical policies,
we would get the state out of
debt without increasing the
taxes, and that if they failed to
do so, | would fulfill my prom
Use even if | had to resort to
the prerogative vested in the
Governor by the Constitution
IN the exercise of the veto pow
er. The Legislature of 1915 APP
propriated too much money,
more than we had any way of
IN tltft