The Prescott daily news., 1920-06-25

dren, than whom there is nothing more restful to the eye, but the speakers were handicapped by children crying on the outer fringes of the au- dience, fond mothers telling about how Johnny had the collie, and small boys blowing horns and whistles. Not far away boys and girls from the rural districts faced visiting camera man with defiant, pained expressions and posed for their pictures.
 On hill near by, baseball game was in progress, with much enthusi- asm displayed in favor of the home team, but in spite of all these counter attractions all the speakers had strong voices and got their messages over to the many attentive listeners. 1 McRae First Speaker i T. c. McRae of Prescott, former congressman, was the first speaker. MT. McRae declared that never in the history of the tate have the people been confronted with situation more serious than the one that now exists He said that he has determined to devote the remainder of his life to driving factional politics from the state. These factions, he said, now are engaged in fighting for spells, for place and power in the state govern ment.
 Every state officer you now have is now up to his neck in politics." he said. "Old man Joe Ferguson, state treasurer, is the only man on the job. All the others are either running for something or backing someone else for office"
 Mir .McRae declared that illiteracy is one of the greatest menaces of this generation. The people of Arkansas pay only 21 cents on every $100 of assessed valuation, he said, for SUD- port of schools. He said that some thing must be done for the children of the state, and the only thing for which he would favor an increase of taxation is for the public schools. Pardon attorneys are more in evidence today than ever before," he declared. Hardly day passes but what a pardon is granted. There should be law to make it crime for attorneys to become too greatly interested in pardons." l Initiates Jeff Davis Tactics Smead Powell of Camden began his address at 1:30 with his usual com plaint, copyrighted by the late Jeff Davis, that he is being misrepresented by the press. He said that he has been interested in politics all his life and has helped various friends. He was dissatisfied with the way some of these friends had conducted office, he said, and decided to get into the rac ehimsef.
 He answered the charge that he is being supported by the so-called Pace Davis faction by saying that men now running for governor would be glad to get this support they have begun to criticise him. He declared he has no defense to make of the men supporting him for, he said, they are among the best people in Arkan- sas.
 On this same line he declared that he has promised no person that when he is elected he will appoint that person to any office in the state.
 MT. Powell repeated his opinion that for the sake of economy the Tax Commission and the Corporation Commission should be consolidated He suggested that the same be done with the State Board of Control and the Penitentiary Commission. The members of these commissions work only half the time, he said. l He said that the penitentiary walls cost lot of money and there is no need of them. Convicted men should be sent direct to the farms, he declared, and the walls eliminated
 He told of other boards and com missions that might be dispensed with
 1Continue don Page Four)