Adkins, Laney Support States' Rights Stand

Adkins, Laney Support States' Rights Stand
PHYLLIS DILLAHA
(DEMOCRAT STAFF WRITER)

Two former Arkansas governors are solidly for states' rights, but are cautious about giving any specific suggestions on the Little Rock integration situation.
Both Homer Adkins and Ben Laney speaking to the Lions Club yesterday told the Democrat that they could not comment on the crisis. Adkins stated he felt it wasn't his position and that he wasn't up to date on it all since he had been out of the state, while Laney said "it is a very serious situation" that he could not comment on because only the governor has all the facts.
Speaking to the group on "If I were Governor Again" each went after the federal government. "The federal government is becoming a policeman to harass the people at every crossroad," Adkins told the Lions.

Adkins For Convention.
"If I were governor again I would again attempt to call a constitutional convention with the governors of the other states to preserve and prevent encroachment of states' rights," he said.
"The country is drifting toward a centralized government," Laney said, "and we might as well lock the state house doors and forget state boundaries. We'd be better off if we'd never gotten a dollar turned back from Washington."
Laney expressed his theory that the people who are governed least are governed best, and explained "you cannot control or regulate everything people are going to do without sacrifice or personal liberty."
Laney wouldn't exactly state what he would do if he were governor again, but said two things must be considered. "What a man is when he is governor and public opinion while he's in office." He stated his beliefs and asked his audience to decide what he would do.
He stated that he was against getting rich now by owing more.

Not For Debts.
"I believe it is morally wrong to load the next generation with debts just because we want something now," he said. "We cannot spend ourselves into prosperity." He said he believed that taxation should support only the necessary agencies.
Laney said he believes in encouraging thrift, strict economy, new industry, more jobs and not more on the welfare rolls, preservation of natural resources, and protecting and maintaining personal liberty. It also stated that he wanted a new interpretation of the 5th amendment and its use because "its usage has become a farce."
Adkins said if he were in office he would again use his influence to sponsor as amendment for a four-year term for state and county officials, a comprehensive mental health program to treat the acute mentally ill with a mobile unit to help in treatment across the state and to prevent people from entering the State Hospital.
"And I would do as I did before -- save 25 cents out of every dollar from the state treasury for a rainy day," he concluded.
The two spoke with almost campaign vigor as they presented their ideas. Adkins was governor from 1941-1945 and Laney was in office from 1945-1949.


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Reprinted from the Arkansas Democrat, September 19, 1957