Pine Bluff daily graphic., 1918-02-13
WAR ISSUES PUT
 POLITICS OUT OF ARKANSAS MIND
(By Clio Harper.)


 Little Rock, Feb. 11.-Ordinarilly about this time the people of Arkan- sas are oil wrought up over politics.
 But not so this year. They have oth- CT things to think about. Of course. the postponing of the prl- maries until May 28, the latest ever held in the state, may have something to do with it, but not all.
 The people are too busy helping in the war and making living to fool much with politics.
 That is one notable change that is being made in Arkansas-politics is becoming an incident rather than q profession for the politician and the chief diversion for the voter. Soon there will be 30,000 of Arkan- sas' best young manhood in the mili- tary service of the country, making a great void in the commercial and in dustrial life of the state.
 And after all, the commercial and in- dustrial affairs of state are it's fore- most concern.
 Taking so many men out of their former occupations is already being felt, and so great is the loss, actual and prospective, in the farming busi- ness that delegation will go to Wash ington to petition the authorities to place farm labor in a deferred classi- fication of the Selective Draft. All of which proves that there are more important things in the state to- day than the personnel of it's office holders. Service and not personal am- bition should be the first consideration In a few of the counties the candid ates are beginning to get active but there has not been an announcement for a county office in Pulaski county Of course, line-ups are rumored, and slates arc in the making, but more and more pointedly the proposition is driv- ing home, that the whipping of the kaiser is of greater importance than the election of a sheriff or county clerk.
 l And so with the state and district officers. Prospective candidates are themselves most excited over the po- litical situation.
 There will be fewer contests this year than usual, although some may develop later into quite lively scrim- images with some elements of old fashioned interest.
 Judge l.. C Smith of Arkansas coun. ty, who ran second for Governor ir l1916. has opened headouarters in Lit tie Rock, with staff of retainers, anC announces his intention of seeking the nomination for Governor over Dr Brough. who will be a candidate for { econd term. Gov. Brough is not show ing any evidence of speeding ur campaign on account of the prospective opposition.
 Then there is Jim G. Ferguson who lis out after Commissioner John H Pages job. and Uncle Joe Fergusor and Ernest Tipton aspire to handle tho states finances after Rufus McDaniel'! quits the State Treasury.
 And when that is said. about all i! said, so far as state offices are con cerned, for most of the others are seeking second term.
 Tha Senatorial situation has beer complicated bv the positive entry O Col. s. Brundidge into the lists as ; contender for the toga now worn b, Joe T. Robinson of the adjoininp coun tv of Lonoke Smeade Powell of Cam den is also a prospective candidate fo the place. He has been saving fo several months that he would be in th' race, but has made no definite, posi- tive announcement recently.
 When it comes to the lower house O Congress, there will be about the us ual number of contested places. Cara way of the First. Tilman of the Third Winoo of the Fourth. and Tavlor O the Sixth are safe so far, but there i no principle so thoroughly establish ed in our political ethics as the inalen able right of any man to run for an!