The Mena weekly star., 1917-02-01
PETTY POLITICS
 IS OUT OF STYLE
Governor Brough Receives Warm Praise from Earle Hodges, His Former ,0pponent--Statesman-
 ship vs. Partisan Politics.
sneciaI to The Star.

Special to The Star.
 Little Rock, Jan. 29--Earle w. Hodges, late Secretary of State, and one-time candidate for governor, is d good loser At a meeting of the press association last week, he said that Dr. Brough is making such Food governor that he is almost sor- ry that he tried to beat him. Gov ernor Brough responded with felicitous expression of gratitude for the support Mr. Hodges is giv- ing him in progressive measures for the good of the state, and all goes merry as a marriage bell"
 But that Is the impression that Governor Brough is making upon fhe whole state. He is making good" He is rising above petty pol itics, as his friends predicted he would. He sees in the governors office something more than an op- portunity for personal advancement by processes of trimming, and back Firing, and wire-pulling, and side Stepping. Principles have been Elevated above personalities, and progress above preferment None had opposed him more bitterly than Did Mir. Hodges, and the attitude assumed by his former antagonist IS indicative of the attitude of many pthers.
 The state is being given a new Iesson in practical politics. It is a primer lesson for many who had Graduated in the old school, whose 9urriculums consisted in the teach ing of the policy, Get all you can and hold all you get. Governor Brough is not insensible of the re- yards that are due ones friends, but personal rewards must be sub prdinated to the common good. # Governor Brough started right. His message was a masterpiece of statecraft. lt was not hastily Ihrown together to tickle the fam .1ies of his hearers. It is a docu- nnent that represents the best of Research in political economy in Arkansas and other states. He asked the advice and assistance and Suggestions of students of govern Inent all over the United States, and nOrrelated the best of these in the frucible of his own intellect. The Resultant document was what Re- presentative NOrileet of st. Francis falled "a chart by which future Governors may steer the ship of ktate." The wholesome legislation he outlined in the message was Enough to keep the Legislature busy for six months. There were some z~ho had said, as they said of Wood Tow Wilson, He is a school teacher and school teachers are never prac- tical." But here are two school teachers who have shown them Selves to be intensely practical.
 One of the primary lessons he As trying to teach the politicians of lhe state is that the prevalent opin- Ion of politics as game" is wrong lt is a scienee-the science of good Government and not rough and Rumble wrestling match to see who gan get the advantage and grab the most offices and fiat jobs" His First official act was a rebuke to That system of spells. The Senate had declined to receive the recess Appointments of Governor Hays. A time-serving politician in the gov sernor's chair would have eagerly Seized the opportunity presented to Except the vacancies thus created that he might provide places for Humorous friends. It was the thing that was expected of him, be- fause so many others would have Zone 1t. It was part of the political Fame of get and keep" But Dr. Brough was differently constituted. n let it be known in unmistakable Mnguage that it was his desire that De Senate should receive and con- sder on their merits the appoint ments of Governor Hays. The Sen- sale and the whole state awoke with a start. Truly, something unusual had happened. Here was new ehord struck in the afiretime jang- nng discerd Of state politics Sure Iy said an incredulous public, even yet loath to believe, surely, here is new way to play the game of poll ifics."
 And so, in every issue, is he play Ug the game, or, as he prefers to say, applying the wholesome prln- elples of assured science to the gov frnment of the state. He considers U is a big business institution to be fnn on business principles, in which personal politics can have no part.
 All factions and parties are begin nIng to realize that Arkansas first school teacher governor is a states- man in the truest sense of the word. ------o-----
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