The Brookhaven leader. [volume] (Brookhaven, Miss.) 1883-1891, 1890-01-09
The Gathering of the Solons
and Organization of the
Two Houses.
The Legislature Thought to Fa.
vOr a Constitutional Con-
ventiOn.
Editorial Correspondence. ]

iiuS .tuSt HdSSNu AhhO"Eo" WV
of another municipal contest which
will be memorable in her history as
emphasizing the fact that Jackson
ians have forever thrown off negro
Republican rule and taken their stand
permanently with the Democracy of
the rest of the State.
The registered vote of the city is
932-5S5 white, and 347 colored.
This gives the negroes, 279 of whom
do not pay a dollars worth of city
taxes, the balance of power
in a contest on any question be-
tween the whites, and realizing this,
John McGill, the ex-Republican may
or, and the white hoodlums who sup
ported him, formed the purpose of
solidifying the negroes against the
Democrats, who constitute majority
of the whites, and riding into power
again on Sambo's back.
Remembering the mal-administra-
ton of the McGill regime with its rec
ord of misdeeds and open collision
with the worst class of criminals, the
Democrats resolved that this should
not be, cost what it might to prevent
it.
A proposition was formally made
to McGill and the candidates on his
ticket for Aldermen that they and the
Democratic candidates submit their
candidacy to a white primary, those
receiving the smallest vote to with
draw before the gular election.
AS McGill g. Co. were counting
mainly on the negro vete, this pro-
position was rejected. The Demo-
Gratis then resolved that they would
repeat their policy of two years ago,
and exclude the negro from partici-
patton in the regular election peace
ably if they could, forcibly if they
must. "White Supremacy" was their
campaign slogan, and on this line the
battle was waged.
The white negro leaders were very
loud and emphatic in their boasts
that they would see that the negro
had his rights and voted as he pleas
ed, or there would be blood; but
when it came to the scratch they
quailed, and Cuffy was left to assert
his own rights.
AS it was, not negro voted. Only
few came about the polls or express
ed desire to vote, and the election
was one of the most quiet ever seen
here. Every man on the Democratic
ticket was elected, the vote for may
or standing: Henry, 375, McGill,
1875.
The city was ablaze with enthus-
iasm last night, and the large crowd
of strangers in town are congratulate
ing the people of the Capital on the
permanent redemption of their pros
porous and growing city from the
blight of negro misrule with which
it was threatened.
The Legislature convened to-day,
Hons. r. r. Applewhite and j. A. j..
Hart both answering to roll call.
The House organized by electing
Hon. J. S. Madison of Noxubee, speak
err; R. f. Wilson of Kinds, Clerk,
j. w. Ware of Lee, Sargeant-at-
Arms, and j. w. Stanton of Neshoba,
Door-Keeper.
Mr.. Madison, the speaker, was
elected without opposition, receiving
every vote cast. He is a broad
guaged, well-poised statesman, men
tally and physically, and fills the
chair in every respect. He favored
a Constitutional Convention during the
last session, and favors it now.
He was the author of the present
assessment law, which is now known
as the "MadisOn Bill" which has Civ
en- such great satisfaction all over the
State of the law making failure to
pay poll tax a misdemeanor of the
law pensiOning the soldiers and sail
ors of the late war between the states,
and of the law requiring chancery
clerks to keep ledger accounts. He
was also one of the special committee
in 1888, which had under charge the
bill to quiet land titles in the Yazoo-
Mississippi delta and added greatly
to the settlement of the intricate
questions involved in that measure.
The contest between E. l.. Martin
and R. E. Wilson for Clerk was a
closely contested one, the vote stand
ing ON the second ballot, Martin, So,
Wilson, go.
The Senate organized with Lieuten-
ant Governor Evans as presiding
officer. Hon. r. A. Dean of the 7th
district was elected President pro tenn,
d. P. Porter, of Kinds, Secretary;
Percy L. Moore, of Montgomery,
Sergeant-at-Arms, and j. III. Win
stead, of Yazoo, Doorkeeper.
The prevailing opinion among the
members seems to be that Constitu-
tional Convention will be called and
that it will be a short session. The