The Nevada County picayune., 1920-04-01

couvicts who were entitled to some consideration at the hands of the Gov ernor, but on account of being unable to secure the services of the right party to represent them, have had to serve out their full terms in the peni- tentiary.
 My friends. my contention is that the exercise of the pardoning power should be made to depend on nothing except the merit involved ill each in dividual case.
 State Convict Farms
 The control and management of the penitentiary and the State convict farms has for many years been the subject of much discussion and sharp criticism. It is not my purpose to impugn the honesty and integrity of those in charge of these convict farms, vet if the unofficial information i'll my possession is correct, there is some thing radically wrong with the system under which these farms have been managed and controlled. There was an effort made in the last legislature to authorize the sale of one or both of these farms on the ground that they were not self supporting. If this be true, it would seem that no satisfac- tory explanation could be made for this condition by those in charge of the farms.
 It is a matter of common knowledge that all classes of farmers in Arkansas for the last ten years, barring the year the war broke out in Europe, have not only produced enough on their farms to pay the running expenses, but a great per cent of them have estab- lished and maintained q fair bank ae- count ill addition to buying automo- piles and other luxuries to which they have net heretofore been accustomed Ii is said that these convict farms contain some of the richest lands in Arkansas: and of course they are eul- tivated. not by the highpriced labor of taday. but by convict labor, which costs nothing except their food and clothing, which must be comparatively small. So. if the farmers in the hill counties of Arkansas can make a living for themselves and families, pay the oper- ating expenses of their farms at the high prices of labor, buy automobiles and keep a respectable bank account, how can it be explained that these rich and fertile State farms, cultivated hy convict labor, are not self-SuStain- ing? I am informed by two of the for mer Attorney Generals of this State, who were members of the Penitentiary Board. that during their terms of Of fee when cotton was selling at from six to ten cents per pound, these farms produced considerable surplus, and this money was, by the Board, loaned to the Stdie SONtTHlhcHt.
 I'nqucstionahly the system and man agcment of these farms can and should he revolutionized.
 Refers to Other Candidates
 In referring to some of the gentle men who will oppose me ill this cam paign. I shall not engage in what is usually termed mud-Slinging But any mans public or political record is al ways open to discussion without vio- latng the established rules governing political campaigns. No candidate for office has the right to beSmirch or at tempt to bcsmirch the personal charac- ter of his opponent, hut when you are called upon te exercise your right of suffrage between candidates for public office. you have right to know the public and political record of those asking consideration at your hands,
 I am frequently asked the question Why has Nevada county two candl- dates for Goyernor?a This k ques
 ton I cannot answer When l decided 10 make the race for Governor. never dreamed of having an opponent from
 my home county. During last summer
 aS some of you know, my name was
 mentioned. along with a number oi others. as n probable candidate fol
 Governor, and MT. T. C. Mclaae of my
 county. who is also candidate foi
 Governor. knew for over two month> that I had this matter under considera ton, and yet he never advised me oi his intention to make the race. but |, waited until it was announced that
 would be candidate, then he promptly , announced himself also as a candidate pl for Governor. l then wrote him thi' IL. 1Ar