Little ROCK — In an impassioned speech before hundreds of influ­ential Hispanic civil rights leaders from across the nation. Gov. Mike Huckabee said Wednesday that   America is great because it has always opened its doors to people seeking a better way of life.

"Do unto others as you would have others do unto you," Huck­abee said, citing the Golden Rule. "I have tried to govern that way, and it stands to reason that I re­ally do believe that what made this great country so great and so unique is that it has always been a place for people to run to — and not run from.

"I would hope that no matter who we are, or where we are from, that America should always be a place that opens its arms, opens it heart, opens its spirit to people who come because they want the best for their families _" Huckabee said as the largely His­panic audience gave him a stand­ing ovation.

Huckabee was the keynote speaker, along with Tyson Foods, Inc. Chairman and CEO John Tyson at a noon luncheon of The League of United Latin American Citizens, which is holding its 76th annual convention in Little Rock.

About 10,000 political, com­munity and business leaders, along with exhibitors and speakers are attending the convention at the

Statehouse Convention Center.

In his opening remarks, Huck­abee said the nation will need to address the concerns of the His­panic community because of its growing influence and population base.

"Pretty soon, Southern white guys like me may be in the mi­nority," Huckabee said jokingly as the crowd roared in laughter.

Despite several light moments, Huckabee did not avoid several controversial issues that made him a target of criticism during the 85th General Assembly. He said Arkansas needs to make the tran­sition from a traditional Southern state to one that recognizes and cherishes diversity "in culture, in language and in population"

During the legislative session, Huckabee criticized an immigra­tion bill by Republican Sens. Jim Holt of Springdale and Denny Altes of Fort Smith as un-Christian, un-American, irresponsible and anti-life.

Senate Bill 206, which died in the Senate, would have required proof of citizenship to register to vote and also force state agencies to report suspected cases of peo­ple living in the country illegally. Holt replied later to Huckabee's comments that Christian charity does not include turning a blind eye to lawbreaking.

Huckabee also backed legisla­tion that would have opened the door for illegal immigrants in Arkansas to receive college schol­arships.

House Bill 1525 by Rep. Joyce Elliott, D-Little Rock, was ap­proved by the House but eventu-ally failed in the Senate Huckabee reiterated Wednesday that he believes every child, regardless of their parents' immigration status, should have an opportunity to re­ceive an education in the United States.

Before Huckabee spoke, John Tyson thanked the Hispanic com­munity for standing by the Springdale-based food giant during the federal government's investigation of the company a few years ago. The US.Justice Department investigation alleged that Tyson helped to smuggle illegal aliens into the United States and employed them at various chicken-
processing plants across the Southeast.                      

After a seven-week trial, Tyson and several managers of poultry processing plants were acquitted in March 2003 of those charges.

Tyson also credited LULAC leaders for pushing the company to add Hispanics to the Tyson board and promote more Latinos to upper management and executive positions.                    

He also said in the last 15 years,
the number of Hispanics who
work for the Arkansas company    
has increased significantly.______