The Mena weekly star., 1920-07-01
hENA FOLKS HEAR
Hon. ]. C. FLOYD
This Candidate for Governor Demon
sfratsd q Clear Understanding of
Arkansas Affairs and of Some Of
the Things That Are Needed.

It was comparatively small crowd
that assembled at the Court house
Friday night to listen to an address
|by ]. G. Floyd of Yellville, Marion
county. who aspires to be governor
LOT Arkansas. The hearers, however,
were well repaid, and listened with
closest attention to an earnest and
|disnified discussion of Arkansas af-
fairs and to statements bearing on the
Fitness OF che speaker to fill that high
office.
Brief History Of Life.
Briefly the speaker gave a history
of his life. He was born in 1859. His
parents moved to Arkansas when he
was small boy. He was educated in
the common schools and the state uni.
Fefaity. He served one term as re-
|presentative for Marion county, then
two terms as prosecuting attorney of
his district, and after being defeated
for Congress in 1902, was elected in
1904 by big majority and served five
ccnsecutive terms with but one oppo-
|nenf. and then retired voluntarily, in
19l5. since which he had practiced
law, and he Particularly invited the
closest Inspection of his record, both
public and private.
He pointed to the too frequent prac-
|tice Of pu5Iic office holders to leave
their places and duties while they at
tended to private affairs or affairs
that were foreign to the duties for
(which they were paid. He recited
some striking cases of this kind in
Arkansas, and pledged himself, If
elenEed to stay by his job, as he had
done ii the House of Representatives,
where he had not In ten years been
absent on but two occasions, and
these to attend the burial on differ
lent dates, Of his father and mother.
Mr.. Floyd declared himself to be a
progressive. He said he was and had
been for woman suffrage, for prohibi-
tion and ever sort of moral and mater
|Ial up1Ift for Arkansas and its people.
He was for Increased production, for
|reduced taxes and for better market
'ing facilities both in and out of the
The High Cost Of Living.
He discussed the high cost of living,
'and declared that the problem was one
that required the best efforts of the
best brains of the nation to solve, but
that the underlying remedy was in
|creased production, and the curtail-
rsenf Of extravagance, and thought
that the high cost of government de-
|served especial attention. He gave his
ideas on tho practice of forming extra
bureaus and useless offices to furnish
|j0bs to politicians and friends of poll
|tielans, and pledged himself to use his
utmost power In Arkansas, as he had
|in Congress. to cut off these burdens
upon th taxpayers, illustrating his
meaning BY specific instances where
he had brought about such reforms.
The speaker was severe in his ar
|raignment OF the management of the
'penifentiary, which, with 10000 OF the
best acres OF Arkansas. tax free: with
'aIl needed equipment with free labor
hrd the highest prices ever known for
Farm products. yet was unable to sus-
hahn itself, but had to call on the leg
|IsIature bienially for s250000 to $780,
|000 He carried this criticism to the
arrangement Of the blind school, the
School for deaf mutes. the Confeder-
IAAN HAAI@ 1IA buG lubdHb dSy Auttts huu
|7eelarad tho needed remedy to be the
taking of these institutions out Of
politics and politics out of these in
'situtions. and pledging himself to use
hia endeaxors to this end.
Makes Position Clear on Roads.
Mr. Floyd spoke very definitely on
The question Of roads. He said that
'permaneut roads were of paramount
lmportofIce ii Arkansas, and that
nothin9 would no so much to turn the
tidc 81 population back to the farms
IS @ctd roads and the better life they
bring s. sssx 10 the farmers. But he
stood squarely for majority rule, and
against any movements that would
TAX the people for roads or any other
purpose without a hearing and with
out the exprest wish of the majority.
His platform on this subject is as fol-
81 favor the good roads movement
thfuout the state and the country.
Nothing ID my opinion will more
vitaIIy affect the welfare Of our peo-
|pIe generally, and especially those re-
sidiux III the rural sections of the
state than to inaugurate, construct
and mAintajn permanent system of
Nocd r6ads This should be accom-
|nIfshed ii SO far as practical under
xeneraI laws. OF one thing, however,
/ am firmly convinced and that is our
pfeaent road laws should be over
hauled and amended in many vital
'rIarf ficulnrs, and that some provision
Should be Incorporated in our general
IaWs which would be plain, fair and
workable and which would enable the
|pcopIe Of local communities by ma
|}or1fy vote or petition to create and
e1<nbIj6h special road Improvement
dio<ricfs whenever deemed advisable,
without the necessity of special acts
o. the lekisIature. /.
q ana = firm believer in the rule Of
<he majority and in local self-govern-
Iocuf nd would apply this principle
|t0 t1c smallest units of government.
E<r16nnI|y. have no objection to the
i1z11zG q local or special acts, pro-
V{(|66 36cy meet with the approval of
olEeetod th6reby and provided further,
<heY contain provisions properly safe
k01f5iuk fheir rights. / would, how
opor. d aII cases of future legislation
IcoVe ~ Question of approval to be
det<ruined by the people to be taxed
under the privisions of such legisia-
tion e am elected governor l Will
xcQ0if6 nI| local bills creating special
<od6 fTnpxQfement districts, to contain
4 ~ &E&nIloin clause to the effect that
tii& III S6GII not become effective or be
~ I<iI majority OF the tax