The leader., 1899-05-03
THE JACKSON MEETING.

The editor of THE LEADER was one
of the few who boarded the excursion
train here last Thursday morning to
attend the big rally of Democratic
candidates at Jackson on that day. 1t
was noticeable that the people along
the line from here to Jackson were
very little enthused over the event.
There was a lot of passengers add
ed at every station along the way, but
the train was far from crowded when
it reached the Capital city. The same
seems to have been true of excursion
trains from other directions and the
size of the crowd when speaking open
ed under the large tent spread for the
auditorium must have been distinct
disappointment to the managers.
The following is a list of the candida
tes for State offices that were present
Col. W. A. Montgomery, Judge A. H.
Longino, Judge Robert Powell and
Hon. J. F. McCool, candidates for Gov
ernor; Judge James T. Harri-
son, candidate for Lieutenant
Governor; J. l.. Power, candidate for
Secretary of State; E. j. Smith, c. c.
Campbell, w. Q. Cole and T. NJ. Henry,
candidates for Auditor of Public Ac-
counts; J. L. Gillespie l.. D. Smith, j.
r. Showers, John Calhoon, candidates
for State Treasurer; Monroe McClurg
and Walter Trotter, candidates for At
torney General: H. L. Whitfield, can
didate for State Superintendent of
Education; E. H. Nall and E. J. Mar
rett, candidates for State Land Com. !:
j. d. McInnis, E. M. Lawrence,
F. M. Triplett, candidates for Railroad
Commissioner from First District; NJ
NJ. Evans, A. Q. May, J. G. Lyell, can
didates for Railroad Commissioner
from second District; J. J. Evans, J. J..
Conan, Clayton Kincannon, j. r..
Binford, B. E. Thomas, A. p Watson,
candidates for Railroad Commissioner
from the Third District.
Hon. Il. H. Henry, editor of the
Clarion Ledger, was chairman of the
meeting and introduced the speakers.
Judge Calhoon, on behalf of the citi-
zens of Jackson, delivered the address
of welcome. Following Judge Cal
hoon's address, % minute speeches
were made by Col. W. A. Montgomery,
Hon. A. H. Longino, Judge Robt. Pow
ell and Hon. j. F. McCool, gubernato-
rial candidates, in the order named.
Judge Critz end Major Vardaman, the
other candidates for governor, were
absent
In this brief space it is impossible
to give a report of the speeches.
Judged, however, by the applause they
received and the expressions heard in
private conversation, Longino and
Powell were the favorites and both
made fine impression on their hear
ers. The speeches of both of
these gentlemen were on digni-
fed lofty, statesmanlike plane which
won the admiration of all. To one who
mingled with the crowd after the
speaking there seemed to be a well-de-
fined conviction that one or the other
of them would be Mississippi's next
chief executive, with the chances in fa-
vor of Longino, and comforting sense
that in either case Mississippi would
have governor in every respect wor-
thy of her proudest traditions and
glorious future
The other candidates for State Off
ces were allowed five minutes each to
appear before the audience and an
nounce their candidacy.
The regular trains to the city from
various directions had very greatly
swelled the crowd at the afternoon ses-
sion, and the big auditorium tent by
that time had all it could comfortably
hold an audience of four to five
thousand.
The chief interest in the afternoon
centered in the speeches of the candi
dates for United States Senators
Senator Sullivan, candidate for re.
election to the short term, was not
present, and ex-Gov. Lowry, his oppo
nent, declined to speak for this reason
The remaining time, therefore, was
given to Gov. McLaurin and Private
John Allen, candidates for the long
term. Gov. McLaurin opened in &
speech of 40 minutes, Allen followed
governor closed with rejoinder of 10
In the main, the speeches of both, a:
far as they went in the limited time al
lowed them, were substantially the
same as those made at other places ant
published. but they must be hearC
rather than read, to be appreciated t.
the greatest advantage. The applause
was about equally divided, though
Kinds is claimed by the Governor
partisans and the speaking occurred
almost on the line of his home county
Rankin. Allen began his speech by de
claring that there was perfect agree
ment between himself and the Govern
or on all national questions and tha
: the issue between them was narrowe,
down to one of the Governors owl
choosing, viz; whether the peopl
should endorse the Governors admins
!, tration of State affairs by electing hin
to the United States Senate. TIL
Governor endorses the McLaurin ad
ministration, but he (Allen) does not.
On the issue thus joined it was evi
dent to us that the private had the bel
ter of the argument and gained favo
with the audience as he progressed
At times his language was plain an
1;,aot to tho poipt Of no icipo tho bo