GOVERNOR UPHOLDS
THE PUBLICITY ACT
(Continued from front page)
circulation of the newspapers is
not made mandatory upon the
board, but simply optional. If
the members of this board were
disposed to play politics the
awards might be made without
reference to the circulation of
the papers, or without reference
to the lowest bidder under the
optional plan.
“The letting of contracts of
this kind by competitive bids
might result in the elimination
of one, or more than one, of the
large newspapers in every county
in the state, the printing going to
newspapers of negligible circula
tion. The intent of the publicity
feature is to give publicity to
these measures, on which every
voter should be informed. Un
aer tms measure it migni nappen
that the publicity in the newspa
pers would amount to no more than
the publicity under the old sys
tem, when notices were posted
on the courthouse doors. Pub
licity is the very Gibraltar of the
initiative and referendum, and is
the only agency we have for re
call in Arkansas. Without full I
publicity through the newspapers
and through discussions and ex- j
planations, bv public men and!
women, the law, which should
^ always safeguard the rights of
the people, might become a
menace.
“This measure gives the State
Printing Board the right to take
cognizance of circulation, but
that feature of the law is not
mandatory upon the board,
which, in my humble opinion, is
a very serious defect.
Competitive Bid Wrong Principle.
“Furthermore, the competitive
bids for awarding state printing
is wrong in principle. If the
rate is too high it should be low
ered by amending the enabling
clause of the publicity act. If
bids for state printing are to be
received and awarded to the low
est bidder in each county, news
papers will spring up like mush
rooms over night. And thus, the
legitimate newspapers, which for
years have rendered the state
and their counties signal service,
are not given that degree of rec
! ognition, by virtue of such ele
' merits as good will, prestige,
circulation and character, to
which they are justly entitled.
Act Needs Amending.
“In my inaugural address I
stated that our publicity act needs
amending, by eliminating such
items as the publication of the
state Railroad Commission, ju
rors’ and witness’ fees, and other
items in county accounts. These
are useless expenses and are ex
travagant charges upon the tax
payers of the state, for publica
tion of these items are very seldom
ever read. I respectfully suggest
to the splendid members of this
General Assembly that the pub
licity act should be amended
along broader and more general
lines, and I can assure vou that
such a measure will meet with
my approval.
Cost of Printing Decreases.
“It is but justice to the news
papers of the state to say that
the cost of printing has decreased
from $76,687.50 in 1912 to $45,
981.25 in 1914, and $36,150 for
last biennial period, eloquently
revealing the fact that the news
papers of our state have not pur
sued a selfish and self-seeking
policy. The government esti
mates that each newspaper pub
lished is read by an average of
five people. This fact shows the
enormous value of newspaper
publications. It has been the
experience of all campaigners
that publications in newspapers
are far more valuable, and are
read far more widely than publi
cations in pamphlets, and there
fore, in the long run they are
a cheaper form of advertisement.
The amendment of our publicity
act, along the lines I have sug
gested, would materially reduce
the expense of our publicity ac
count, which I firmly believe is a
mighty agency of real democracy
in our state. For,
“Mightiest of the mighty means
On which the arm of progress
leans,
Man s noblest mission to advance,
His woes assuage, his weal en
hance,
His rights enforce, his wrongs
redress.
Mightiest of the mighty is the
American press.”
Respectfully submitted,
“Charles H. Brough,
Governor.”
Was Always Boosting
Unusual energy, thrift and
economy, coupled with his sound
business judgment and safe in
vestments, have built him from
the ground up in the financial
world until today he owns his
home in McCrory, has the only
undertaking parlor in town,
which he established herein 1899,
and owns a valuable farm and
mercantile stock.
He is always connected with
any enterprise which has the
town’s interests as its principle,
and continually on the alert for
any plan or system whereby the
town may be benefited. He is
a chronic “booster/’ and is con
tinually pointing out the advam
tages of our town and county to
visitors here, and never lets an
opportunity pass without putting
a word where it will pay. The
name of H. T. Raney will long
be rememered by the residents
of our now thriving little city.—
The McCrory Enterprise, July
25, 1914, H. E. Wood, Editor.
Fish's Distensible Stomach.
Of the deep-sea fish which swallow
other fish much bigger than them
selves, no better known example can
be given than the black swallower. It
is a most voracious fish and has been
provided by an accommodating Moth
er Nature with a distensible skin and
a distensible stomach.
Feed, Lumber, Coal
Shingles, Doors, Rubber
Roofing, Paints, Brick and
Lime.
Corn, Oats, Chops, Hulls
&nd Meal.
H. D. SWAYZE
PROFESSIONAL CARDS
J. H. WEST
PHYSICIAN AND SURGEON.
Calls answered promptly
day or night.
Grays, Arkansas
DR. R. L. FRASER,
IS READY TO ANSWER
CALLS, DAY OR NIGHT.
Phone Number 2,
McCrory, . \ . \ Arkansas
L. B. WINFREE, J. P.
CONVEYANCES
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