The Sentinel=record., 1917-02-15
POLITICAL RALLY
 HELD LAST NIGHT
GEORGE R. BELONG GIVEN BIC OVATION AND MAKES RED
 HOT ADDRESS.
Bob SiCman Announced He Would Not Be Present to Discuss Issues of Campaign With Opponent

Tha democratic primary campaign came 10 close in the Auditorium theatar last night H ljii a pouical rally that attracted crowd sufficient TO Ill tho lower floor The meeting was Ia most interesting one and was made SO bE read hot campaign speech de- lNered b} George R. Bedding candi- cate for mayor
 Bob Sigman. opponeut of }lr. Reid ile, was not present lie had onnou. c0 publicly he would not be present nd he remained away from the meet lnr N. Bedding expressed his sin cere regret that llr Sigman was not present Hamp Williams presided as chairman of the meeting. On the stage were Mayor J. w. McClend0u, Police Judge Ncrual S Ledeerwood. candidate for Municipal judge. Alder men Rigsbee. Little Poe. Davis and LodgorWood Previous to Mir Beld- ine's speech. Judge Lcdgerwood and alderman Davis announced their can. didacies.
 Mr. Beldns stated he had offered a reward of $l0U to any one who could get Rob sisman to attend the meeting and knew when he made the offer it would never have be be paid. de laring a team of forty oxen could not have , brought him on the Auditorium stage 1 in closing debate Nr Bedding also l paid his respects jointly to Mir Sigmln and his hired press agent" as Nr Bedding expressed it. classifying his opponents publicity man as a person with poison dripping from his heart, who has widowed in the mire and
 who is now feeling the effects Of a mls spent life"
 Each charge made by Mr. Sigman relative 10 Mr. Beldiug's public career
 vas taken up and answered in convnc
 ing and emphatic manner He said
 that he believed the time had come
 when any man Mould be repudiatcd
 who uses the tactics Of a character assassin and that any one who could offer nothing but innuendo and at tacks of this nature was not fiji to be mayor or hold any other office. Mr.
 Bedding referred to Mr. Sieman's vote Tor the road tax ordinance in city council and tO show the emphatic
 manner in which this measure wa- lprotesteI against he unrolled petition containing over 2 u0 names. which reached from the stage, up one of the aisles and extended back into the tlobby of the theater It was che first
 time this petition had been exhibited in public and it created decided inter
 est
 Mir. Bedding created round of aD plause when he said If am elected mayor l will give you a police force ol intelligent looking men The day of
 the gun man is past We don't need
 him l will not tolerate a slouchy in dividual with a cigar in his mouth, a i Texas hat damned over one side ot his head and gun sticking out of his pocket. reminding one Of Wild Bill but will give you a police force neatly
 dressed and representative of the pro i teetion they are called upon to give
 Mr Bedding also outlined his inten tions for a bigger fire department. bet
 ter pay for these men and pictured
 in detail the many big things in store
 for this city, closing by asking tol support. not for friendships sake, but
 because he was better qualified IT
 every way to give Hot Springs a pro eressiye business and most competent administration