The free press. (Poplarville, Miss.) 1890-19??, 1898-01-27
COMMENTS ON THE "lNvES-
TIGAIIONn

The following comments from the
Vicksburg papers, The home of
Judge W. X. McLaurin, will no
doubt be interesting to our readers.
The Herald, edited by j. s. Nc
NeIiy, says:
"The Herald has but brief COM
menJ to moke UPON the oliver res.
olutiou-now among the lost chords
of memory that have Jared upon
the harmonies of the present ad-
minist, alton. The debate tells the
story for all, and to all. o. the
truth of the charges against Judge
McLsurin we know nothing save
by common report, and have noth-
log to say concerning their truth or
fslslty. And as one who has had
no sort of connection, either direct
or indirect, with the proceeding, we
may fairly sum up the salients OF
the situation as it is. Whether or
not the charges against the Judge
of this circuit be true, the impress
, sion is conveyed that the district
considers drunkenness and rintous
conduct 10 IFS highest law officer
that one upon whom the public
morals and the examples of life
most depepd--a a thing TO be held
blameless or in tolerance. 1t cans
not be disputed upon reading the
debate that this theory was used
to defeat the resolution. We will
take the liberty of expressing re-
greet, that this storm could not have
passed by without leaving that i'm.
preston behind. If these things
alleged be false, then every word
said in opposition IT, an investiga.
ton in the face of such charges
was stultifying, or worse. If the
accused is innocent, or the victim
of plots and rersecutors--ot all
persons, his friends shonld have
been the first and foremost in ask
| ing an investigation, that he might
have been indicated and the lrfa-
my of the plotters and persecu,ors
exposed. As these friends cannot
say that they feared an unfair trial,
they have left but the one infer
ence to be rawn-that an !nvrsti-
cation was to BIZ avoided as some-
thing dangerous"
The Dispatch, the new paper ed"
tied by G. E. Wright, says:
"The house very properly refused
10 investigate the Glover charges
against Judge McLaurin, OF this
district, These charges were con-
ceived in personal and political en-
NIFTY, with just enough foundation
to make them of service 10 such n
case. they were IN manner held
al threat against the governor
, and the judge, and now that the
house has, by positive vote, ex-
ploded TIE whole sch me, we trust
that all concerned will be able to
rise above attacks on the personal
habits of officials"
The Post, edited by J. 4. CASH
man, says:
"We have doubted the propriety
or wisdom Of introducing these resa
olutions, but inasmuch as they we're
introduced and discussed, perhaps
Judge McLaurin's friends made a
mistake in opposing and defeating
the proposed investigations; or,
perhaps, that no member Of the
reigning dynasty 8 liable to critie
cism or investigation"
No doubt judge McLaurIn's
friends made mistake in opposing
the Investigation, as it places the
Judge in worse predicamenI than
ever, but the action of the house
in putting it down will meet the
approval of the tax payers who are
dauclng to the tune of $1,000 a day
while such Investigations are in
progress. The law empowering
the Legislature to lcok alter such
things should be aboli-hed anyhow
and let the grand juries attend to
them. If d public official prove;
himself unworthy of his position
he should be dealt with by the same
process provided for all criminals,
and if found guilty of a breach oil
trust he should he kicked out OF
Office with brogan shoe. IL, on
the Other hand he proves hims ell
innocent, the trial wi not burt
him but will vindlcate him before
the world, and the tax payers will
not have to sweat such large drops
of blood to pay the expenses.
TEACHERS NORMAL TRAIN
ING LOURSEOF POPLAR.