Leo McLaughlin's Downfall
Sid McMath, a young man who had tried to practice law in Hot Springs, returned from the war. He was disgusted with the tales of the lack of competition against McLaughlin in over a decade. He listened to the pulse of the city and decided it was time to fight against McLaughlin’s machine. So the former marine organized the Hot Springs G.I. Revolt, a group of young veterans returning from war who planned to run for every office available to fight for reform.
McMath announced his candidacy for prosecuting attorney. The McLaughlin machine began intimidating and humiliating all the G.I. Boys, including threatening the G.I.s' families. The G.I. boys then investigated the poll tax records and discovered that over 4,000 poll tax receipts were fraudulent. They interviewed many on the list. Those that were still alive (many were names taken off of gravestones from the Hot Springs cemetery) stated they never authorized anyone to pay their poll tax. McLaughlin's supporters stole all the evidence at gunpoint.
The election day results came and only two of the G.I. Boys won, J.O. Campbell and Sid McMath. McMath's first action as prosecuting attorney was to prosecute the mayor for fraud and running a $30,000,000 gambling syndicate. While indicted on several charges he was never convicted. This was namely because former advisor Judge Vernal Ledgerwood assisted, not because he liked McLaughlin but because if the mayor was convicted, several of Ledgerwood’s friends would face charges as well. This was the last bit of luck the mayor had.