Mississippi leader. (Jackson, Miss.) 1892-1895, 1894-06-05
GEN. =. y. LEE PLACED IN \ WRONG
LIGHT

In a letter from Miss Belle Koar
ney in the W. c. T. l. depart
ment of today's LEADER. occurs the fol-
lowing sentence:
had hoped to be allowed the pFlVi-
lege. while in Starkville, of addressing
the students at the \. and NJ. College,
in a body. as had been invited to do
at Millsaps College. the University at
Oxford, and other institutions of learn
ing in this State and others. North apd
South. but Gen. Lee objected; on the
ground, as | was informed by reliable
authority, that the college was under
Democratic regime and it WAS hot de
sirable to have Prohibition party poll
tics introduced.
When Miss Kearney's letter was re-
ceived, believing, from what we knew
of Gen Lee, that her informant might
have misunderstood or misquoted him,
and at the same time thinking II he
were correctly reported, such en- eXhl-
bition of partisan zeal, under the cir
cumstances. was deserving Of the Sc
verest censure, the editor of The LEAD
Err decided to write to Gen. Lee him
self and inquire if he had been cor
rectly reported.
In his reply. which has just been re
ceived. Gen. Lee says:
| thank you very much for your let
ter by which you give me chance to
state the facts as | understand them
about Miss Belle Kearney. Her relia-
BILE informant certainly never heard
me use the language she put lii my
mouth. I never used such language.
AS the head of the College. have al
ways favored Prohibition as far as pos
sible personally, and have voted ac-
cordingly, but | am obliged to have i'm
partial rules. So many applications
are made by public lecturers for use of
the College Chapel, that long ago 1t
was determined not to lend it out for
such purposes. 1t has not been used
more than half dozen times in such
cases since the opening of the College,
IA years ago, by public lecturers. 1t
has been refused several times this
session, before Miss Kearney's visit. 1t
has been refused since her visit. I'm
der this general rule, it was refused for
her use.
| have thought it best for the stu
dents in such cases, to attend the lee
lures in the town of Starkville. as 9th
ers did. and this rule has worked we'll
till her visit, and avoided friction and
unpleasant discrimination, | feel sure
Miss Kearney did not intend to convey
the idea her language expresses, VIZ:
That she was deprived of the privilege
of addressing the students while in
Starkville.
The facts are, she delivered several
lectures in Starkville, which were gen
orally attended by the students. At
ter had refused the use of the Col
lege Chapel, member of the \. Nj. e..
A. of the College, asked if she could be
invited to address the students at their
meeting on Sunday in their own hall.
| agreed to it. This hall was built by
subscription from the faculty and stu
dents. So it appears, that Miss Rear
ney did enjoy the privilege OF adj
dressing the body of students on the
College Campus On Sunday afternoon,
and she could not have done so with
out my assent being given.
This statement from Gen. Lee will
no doubt convince Miss Kearney that
she.wrote under misrepresentation of
his position, and at the same time
be satisfactory explanation to the
public.