The Greenville times. [volume] (Greenville, Miss.) 1868-1917, 1899-01-14


passed 10 his Anal reward, no state
aver mourned more sincerely the
loss OF a devoted son. Gov Nc.
Iaurin prompted by the universal
lament telegraphed TO his son AT
Mississippi City that the state de-
manded or requested, / forget which,
the permission 10 do honor to- Gen,
Georges memory and requested
that his remains be allowed TO lie IN
state ut Jackson in the capitol, TINS
request was aeceded TO and vet when
the funeral oortege resumed us pro-
cession TO the town Of CaI1ollton'
where he was finally inferred, fol-
lowed by nearly every state ohcer
and ex-ohicer in the city Of Jackson
Gov. McIAurin left this procession
at the depot in jackson and MEG
himself to Neshoba county to make
the first speech in defense OF his
course Of governor and assailing the
conduct of some, if not all OF the
members of the legislature.
And just here, before ! leave this
part of the history of Mississippi, l
would ask if there has any reason
able explanation ever been given
why Gov. McLaurin allowed the eX-
penses of this tribute ON the part OF
the state of Mississippi to Gen.
George to remain unpaid, until 1t
had become a scandal and disgrace
to the state. Can any one think Tor
one moment that if he had paid this
sum Of money out of the executive
contingent fund, that there would
have been a question as to the pro
priety of his doing sol The legisla-
ture did not question the legality OF
his expenditure of 800 to pay the
expenses of Mr.. Mcknight, of the
law firm of McLaulin d Mcknight,
to investigate the record and char
acter of Mr. Gordon; to offset tele-
grams from large number OF the
most reputable citizens of Texas to
the governor certified to the capacity
and high character of Mr.. Gordon.
If 800 could be expended out of
the executive contingent fund to
pay Mr.. Meningitis expenses to
Texas for such purpose, Is 1t pos
sible that the governor thought
that the people of Mississippi would
be 50 penurious as to begrudge the
trihing pittance necessary to pay
the bills incurred in doing honor to
Gen. Georges memory. And if he
so thought, why did he try and re-
peat this discreditable performance
In the face of this occurrence, and
the most unpleasant feeling II Gre
ated in the minds of the people OF
the state of Mississippi the governor,
when the soldier statesman Of Mis-
sissippi, Senator E. G, Walthall, was
called to his final reward, tele-
g1aphed to his widow at Washing
ton asking that the remains be
brought to the city Of jackson, that
they might lie in state there No
provision had been made at that
time to pay the expenses of such an
ceremony. No invitation or sug-
gestion SO far as / am advised had
come from the people of Jackson and
the thought will naturally occur,
how and by whom did his excel
lency calculate that these expenses
to be paid3
THAT $4,000 VICKSBURG SUB
SCRIBED.
In different public speeches
throughout the state, according to
notices of these speeches contained
in the public print, the governor did
not hesitate to question and severe
" criticise the conduct of the legis-
lature in the special session of 1897.
Some of the members of the legisla-
ture were criticised by name, myself
among the number.
Recently in a speech at Biloxi and
Mississippi City, the governor made
the false and unfounded statement
that a certain corporation lawyer in
the city of Vicksburg, who was OPP
posed to his administration had rails
ed 81, 900 in one day to fight his ad-
ministration. Because of the fact
that Mr.. l.. NJ Garrett, gallant
Confederate solder, man whose &C
quaintance / have not the pleasure
of possessing, but whose high char
acter is testified to by many of my
acouaintances had criticised his adj
ministration in the Carthagenian,
edited by him, the governor took
occasion by inuendo so the papers
say, to convey the idea that Mr..
Garrett had received a subsidy out
of this fictitious fund.
| say emphatically and | beg the
pardon of the audience for using
such plain language, that the state
ment that any such fund was raised
in the city of Vicksburg or that any
such sum or any part thereof, OF
that any money was ever even So
licited for that purpose in Vicks-
burg, is absolutely false The pub
lie generally understand, and be-
lieve that the governor so intended,
that this allusion was made to me.
| beg leave to further say to this
audience and to the people of the
state of Mississippi that whatever
funds | spend in making a canvas
of any sort or kind, in printing and
distributing any speech that may
make, is paid out of my own pocket
and out of my own means. Politics
has not been to me lucrative OF
paying business. l have held no
Office in the state of Mississippi ex-
cept being a member of the house in
1888 and member of the constltu-
tional convention in 1890 and a
member of the present state senate.
In every instance ! have paid my
own expenses, and in every instance
the incumbency of Office has been
at Il positive pecuniary loss to me.
THE l. c. ROAD FIGHTING THE
GOVERNOR.
The governor spoke about two
l., ,.,, =, uavIab,1Yot ond for. the