The Mena weekly star., 1918-05-23


 ,a 4,ba war clouds were hoverias low LaFollette made a speech thAs nobody indorsed, that the Legislature of sis own State by revolution ex- nressly repudiated, and that his own noonle overwhelmingly condemned. The senator cleared the deck Tor ms political battle in Arkansas. lie oe- livered his philippic over the corpse of r,aFollette. and mailed copies Dg the tens of thousands among the vof' era of Arkansas at Government eN- pense. campaign speech in the n- forest of his race for the Senate, ana at once his Federal appointees rai9na inc cry. "He stands by the President. His dash into Inc limelight was a3 hoId and asgrer i've as his former ca reer had been passive and subdued Tn view of the fact that seyeral months have now passed since this widely ad. vartlsed attack was made. and we find Senator I.aFollette. still occupy ing his plice in the Senate we must conclude that the same was made TOT the purpose of keeping Senator Rob inson in the Senate. and not to put LaFoliette out.
 In my opening speech charged him with deliberately he.raying the people of this state. charged him Win us- iDg the power of patronage 10 fnrr1 his own election to the Gaifea States Senate. an ofYense which al the time If was committed constituted a crime against the public conscience, anu which was so fagrant and notorious that the Legislature afterwards mase 1t a crime against the statutes Of thu State. punishable by Imprisonment in the p.nitentiary But up to this tlnie fhe Senator has been too busy to re- nlv. too lusv 10 account to the peon'e of the State for his conduct. He had time to leave Washington and come to the State Democrat ic Convention, seeking to con tinue his control of the State or ganization, by re-electing his brother in-law. A. J. Walls, Chairman of the
 
 leave Washington and go on the Chau- tauuua platform and deliver pleasing pIatitudes for the entertainment of the public and in the interest of bis prl- yate fortune. He has had time to play golf in Washington and time to play politics in Arhansas.
 But the greatest eamonness thai the Senator has ever pulled off Is in connection with tho Third Liberty Loan drive in Arkansas. It was ar ranged that Sousa's Band should tour the State in a special Pullman, and the Senator managed to get himself invited as the guest of honor. A tele- gram from headquarters ordered that he and his wife be given stateroom fn the Pullman and taken care of for ten days. The idea evidently was that he would star in the closing days of the campaign, the band would draw the crowd and his inpassioned oratory be credited with pulling the Stat' lover the top" and thus make him the hero of the hour But he under estimated the patriotism of his oNn people His Pullman train was not re auired in either of the former drives but the election was not so near. Un fortunately for him, the people re sponded before he could get his band and oratory into action.
 He joined the party at Hoxie in Lawrence County Not needed there his next stop was at Newport. Jack son County was s50,0O0 over when hs got there. Thence to Pine Biuf, Lt tie Rock, Conway, Russellville, ana elsewhere. for ten days, but over they went ahead of his train. The Statt was "over," the second in the Union the whole St. Louis District, was over except Tennessee. Wonder why h. didn't go where they were having hard struggle To abandon the trfl was disappointing. to continue it, ah surd. But this band played on, an' the Senator called aloud to the people to discharge a duty they had alreada l performed before he arrived.
 don't know who was responsible l for this trip only know that tn l Liberty Loan fund pays the bill. Who ever may have formally invited him those who are familiar with his politl cal methods can readily see the Italian hand of the Senator himself behind l | all. have no patience with sucl methods I made a few Liberty Loal l speeches in the beginning of th' drive in those counties whose chair
 men requested :t oii the ground tha
 my services were needed, but not
 dollar of my expenses. has that sacre
 fund ever paid It represents tn
 sacrifices. selfdenial and patriotisr
 of my people-the men in the fields
 the lahnrers- aL their tnit=the- worne and children in the homes prefe
 that it should have been invested i
 blankets rather than bands, in con
 forts for the boys actually behind tn
 guns. father than Pullman trains wit political passengers
 have laid bare the politics l intrigue of Senator Robinson a
 far as the same has come to m
 knowledge; no ohe man coul
 know t all. I lay the issue upon tn
 hearts and coHsciences of the people 1 1 shall trust them to deal with 1t i
 the fear of God--and in the interes 1 nr mankind