Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1881-07-29
MISSISSIPPI AFFAIRS.
Convention at Jackson Next We'd
nssday.
Chances For a Dark GubernatOrial
Horse.
OfHenry &. Myers, Gem
eraI smith and Others.
Big Change Of Gauge Next Friday.
Correspondence Public Ledger

Correspondence Public Ledscr,l
OXFORD, Miss, July 2S,-The po'
litical cauldron in Mississippi is boil
ing, and there is any amount of fueI
to maintain the caloricism, for indica'
tions are not wanting TO justify the
belief that there will be desper'
ate struggle for power by the
the opponents Of Democracy in
| November. Who is to be the nom
linee of the Democratic Convention,
which assemblies at jackson next
Wednesday, August Srd, is the alb
sorbing question. According to my
information, which is from the best
sources, the Gubernatorial contest
between the prominent candidates,
Governor Stone and Colonel Ethel
Barksdsle, editor of the Jackson
Clarion, will be so close and stout as
to result in the nomination Of dark
horse. 1t is evident that Governor
Stone is more popular with the politi
clans than with the people Of the Dem
ocratic party. The mass of voters
think six years long enough for any
man TO be in the Executive Mansion
nj the State. He wishes to add four
more years to his terms, thereby max
Ing his Gubarnatorlal service embrace
Ten years. He. has done nothing to
distinguish himself as states
man of broad and progressive
views, and the people want a
new man His veto of the Garry bill
on railroad transportation has aroused
an opposition 10 his own party among
the laboring aud farming classes. 1t
seems Just now that his nomination
would be unfortunate. he is neither
a Bourbon nor a Conservative. Cen
eral w. s. Featherstone, of Holly
Soriugs. is mentioned as a candidate.
The men who were so eager to free
Mississippi from, the carpetbag re-
CINE can appreciate him for his judi
oial counsel and peerless action in
those dark days. | understand that
be will not enter into the scramble tor
Office. With the exception OF his ex
IRENE views, General FeatherstoRe
would be a coed officer, for he seems
to De fully awake to the wants Of Mis-
sissippi and her industrial interests.
Henry c. Myers, the present SerJ-
tary Of State, is gaining strength every
day, despite the fact OF numerous can
didates and strong opposition. He
has made an excellent officer and
proved himself a worthy successor to
Colonel Kinloch Falconer-that man
Of such noble mien and accomplished
mind, whose memory is so dear to
all, and yet by no one more
appreciated than by the writer. Maybe
it we're proper that life of honorable
conduct and brilliant usefulness which
had been saddened in the zenith of its
manhood, should be ended with mar
tyrdom to the cause of humanity, of
which he was a true friend and
exemplar. Associated with the mem
DRY OF Colonel Faleoner is the name of
General j. A. Smith, Superintendent
Of Public Instruction. An officer 10
the United States army and stationed
in Oregon at the beginning of the war
he was among the first 10 resign and
tender his services to President Davis
Ills brave and heroic conduct during
chat long contest, when the hlayens
we're in gloom and our land one great
scene of flaming death, was not for
gotten by the people. Learned and in
every respect qualified, his successful
administration Of the duties of his
Office has added thousands Of devoted
friends. He Is evidently the strongest
man for the position and bis renomina
ton is not questioned. His defeat
would be an unlucky blow at the cause
of popular education by depriying il
Of the most practical, energetic and
fearless champion known in the State.
Owing to the drought, the corn crop
in North Mississippi is distract and
even cotton shows DAMAGING signs.
Should there not be a general rain
very soon the corn crop will fail, while
cotton will be damaged 10 a great Ga
tent. The partial failure of the corn
crop will cause great loss to the labor
crs and farmers, aud this will have a
corresponding effect upon trade. Il
will be another chapter to the volume
Of bankruptcy, with its practical
romspces Of debt aud sentimental
acts of mortgages.
Next Friday the 1t. Louis, Chicago
and New Orleans railway changes to
the Northern standard gauge, which
is fOur feet eight and one-balf inches
in width The Southern gauge is FIVE
feet The Mississippi an TENNESSEE
road will also change its gauge on the
29th. Workmen will hcgip to remove
the western rails OF the TRACK
at three O'Clock Friday morning
aud expect to finish the work
within eight or ten hours The
entire distance from Cairo to New
Orleas is FIVE hundred and City miles.
Seven men will be employed on every
mile Of the track. This will make an
army of three thousand eight hundred
and fifty men necessary TO do the work
within the giVon time. Ia addition to
these. there viii be thousand men
employed in changing tho trucks and
removing the cars and trains. Yet
all this army Of laborers, extending
from Cairo to New Orleans, distance
Of fgo hundred and flty miles, will
work with saah system as to insure a
satisfactory completion Of the day S
great business. This is due to tbs eX.
celIent method in which this great
road is managed. 1t is owned by the
Illinois Central, a company reputed to
Il 1