Pine Bluff daily graphic. (Pine Bluff, Ark.) 1893-1942, 1919-05-14
SEEK SPECIAL
ELECTION FOR
NEW TREASURER
Petitions Being Circulated
in County.
CITIZENS OBJECT
TO APPOINTMENT
Friends of Frank Parsons VIII En-.
dea,or to Force Election Of
County Treasurer.

Petitions to Governor Charles Fl.
Brough, asking that Jefferson county
be granted a special election to fill
the vacancy in the county treasurers
office occasioned by the death of ].
Il. Parsons are being circulated in the
city, and, all over the county, accord
| ing to information received yester
day. The petitions have been in the
country districts some days, it is said.
and the first Pine Bluff petitions
made their appearance yesterday.
The petitions have been distributed
by the friends of Frank Parsons, son
OF the deceased county treasurer. At
the time of the elder Parson death.
there were numerous petitions circu-
lated, asking the governor to appoint
as successor to the office, Frank Par
sons, who, before his entry into the
service, had held a position as
deputy under his father. Several of
these petitions were circulated in this
city, and in the country districts,
and bore the signature of large
number of people.
Appoints Will ROwell.
Governor Brough. shortly after the
death of Mr. Parsons, appointed Will
Rowell, brother of Attorney A. Fl.
Rowell, to the vacancy. Governor
Brough stated his position in the mat
ter in telephone conversation with
ID. b. Niven, representative from JEFF
ferson county, before the appointment
was made. stating that he intended to
appoint Mr.. Rowell, saying that he
was sorry that the people of the coun-
ty were divided on the matter, but
that because of his loyalty to A. H.
ROwell. who petitioned in favor of his
brother, he would appoint Will Row.
ell. -,
Friends of Parsons, though not re-
conciled to the appointment, bided
their time, believing, it is stated,
that the governors appointment was
but temporary one, and that spec
ial election would be called.
Want Special Election.
The fact that the governor made
plain his intention not to call
special election is said to be the rea-
son for the petitions circulated yes
terday. Shortly after the death of Mr..
Parsons. when it became rumored
that Will Rowell would make applica-
ton for the position, A. H. Rowell
stated to the Graphic that he had
made application to the governor in
behalf of Will Rowell, and that he
believed the request would be given
lust consideration. He stated that at
the time. Mr.. Parsons ran for county
treasurer, he had influenced Will
Rowell not to run for the office.
The petitions now being circulated
call the governors attention to the
constitution which provides that all
vacancies occurring in any offices
provided for in the article shall be
filled by special election save vacan-
cies which. occurring in county and
township offices, six months, and oth7
err offices nine months before the gen.
eral election. in which case they are
to be filled by appointment. The va
cancy created by the demise OF Mr..
Parsons occurred 20 months before
the general election.
Text of Petition.
The petition is as follows:
ITO His Excellency, Hon. Charles II.
Brough, Governor of Arkansas.
"Dear Governor
"We. your petitioners, legally quail
fled white democratic voters OF JEFF
ferson county, most respectfully rep
resent that on the day of April,
1919. the Hon. J. R. Parsons, our
regularly elected, qualified and acting
county treasurer, died; that on the
day of April, 1919, you APP
pointed and commissioned q success
sor to fill out the unexpired term
The very organic law of this state
the constitutions provides that
where a vacancy occurs In county |
office more than six months before
the date of the general election IN
the county, it is obligatory on the
governor, after making an appoint
ment of someone to fill temporarily
the office vacated, to call speciai
election whereby the people may se-
lect someone of their choice TO serve
during the unepired term.
at is being one of the fundamen-
ta,lv basic principles of this govern
ment and our great democratic PAT
to - which you and your petition.
ers proudly boast allegiance: ah0 q
which you have unreservedy W. w
claimed yourself the loyal eaaek e9 ,9< W
rHAT THE PEOPLE Am ,
CHOOSE THOSE LII 81 1 IL
rHEIl, AND INAS3ay ~