The Mena weekly star., 1918-05-23


 keep 1t? Any sane man knows that pubic money is safe when passing through the hands of bonded officer if the records are kept and that every bonded officer has to settle by the records.
 My opponent says the committee found my records in deplorable condition. That is not true. There is not a better set of rec ords in the state capitol than we have, and the state comptroller whose business It IS to know, will tell you so.
 My opponent says left Dardanelle poor man. and asks how l accumulated fortune. didn't inherit it, and then blow it in run ming for office instead of investing 1t Tn Llb- erty Bonds like my opponent My money, my time and my energies are devoted to war service. How about your inherited wealth and wasted energy, MT. Ferguson! AS a matter of fact owned $2,500 business, a twO-story business house on Main street, and over 600 acres of land when l came to Little Rock now own one-haH interest in $50 acres of land with mortgage on It, a one-half interest in a home, and few per- sonal effects and few Liberty Bonds and War Savings Stamps. and have no fortune, but work for living.
 COnfesses Guilt.
 My opponent says confess my guilt over my own signature Certainly, am willing to state the truth any time. l have nothing to conceal 1 have never been afraid of a legislature, an Investigating committee or a court, and am not now. My records are al- ways open to the world and have nothing to fear except from mud-slingers and char acter assassins, and time always takes care of them.
 My opponent says 1 secured the passage of the gin law Mr. Rogers, President of the Farmers Union, says that body IS re- sponsible for it. leave it between them. l am sure nobody else ever gave me credit for controlling the legislature.
 My opponent says also that without au- thority of law sold a large lot of gin wrap pers at an exhorbitant price. Just false hood. That's all The gin wrappers are sold without profit and at big saving to gin ners, and we would not be bothered with 1t for good deal if we could get around fur nishing them and properly enforce the law He asks where is the money received for the V rappers. It has been paid to the firm that furnished the wrappers-nothing left.
 Yell County and State Honors.
 Tom and Jim complain about Yell county having so many state officials Bless your soul, boys, Yell county didn't make them state officials She just furnished the mate rial-the men. The Democracy of the State made state officials out of them. Yell county has always had the good judgment to select men acceptable and capable, and has always stood by them Not better set of Demo- crats or citizens on earth than in Yell coun- ty. They never try to take anything away from the balance of the State. They give their endorsement only to good men, and l men who make good in office, and when theyl are worthy Yell county supports them loy- ally In my first race got 2024 votes and my opponent 197. In my last race got 2617l and my opponent 213. This last vote was cast since the record of 1913-14 was made and published. Yell county is banner Dem- ocratic county, and has always contributed to Democratic success and helped to elect Democratic tickets. My opponent comesl from Searcy, one of the two banner Repub- lican counties in the State, that never gives 3 majority for q Democratic ticket. When Searcy county contributes something tol Democratic success and presents worthy and competent candidate, there is no reason to believe that the Democracy will not be- stow the proper reward, but no good reason has yet been advanced why the Democracy of Arkansas should reward Democrat from Republican county, who is without a record of party service or good works in recognition of his ability as a mud-slinger and dealer in cheap demagogy. This mud singing slanderous and snap-judgment kind of campaigning may be suited to the Republican politics of Searcy county, but l do not believe it is the brand to win its way into the hearts of the clean and fair-play loving Democracy of Arkansas, even if Tom Terral does endorse it and participate in it's use and distribution.
 JNO. H. PAGE