The leader. [volume] (Brookhaven, Miss.) 1895-1905, 1899-04-05
THE INDUSTRIAL INSTITUTE
AND COLLEGE VETO.

InE INDUSTRIAL INSlIIUlf
AND COLLEGE VETO.
now come, ladies and gentle
men, to a discussion of a matter
pertaining to the governors admin.
istration with which all of you have
more or less information because il
is matter originating, I may say in
your community and largely at
your instance and complaint. In
1854 the Legislature of the State of
Mississippi passed an act to create
and establish that noble institution
which now exists in your communi-
ty,of which the people of Mississippi
are justly proud, because of its wide
rang for benevolence, because it
was a new and novel experiment on
the part of any state and because of
the fact that its benefcent effects
have been so manifest from its in
Cep ion. Hundreds of young ladies
throughout the state of Mississippi
have since its establishment been
enabled to obtain not only an Acad-
emic education but also an Indus
trial education and thereby fit
themselves to support and maintain
themselves and thus to in some
measure supplement the scanty in
comes of their families.
Notwithstanding the fact that it
was felt that the Institution was
measurably a success, still there had
existed for several years widespread
complaint against the management
of this institution. The people of
Columbus who had an opportunity
for almost daily inspection and bet
fer opportunities for judging Of the
needs of the institution, than other
people throughout the state, were
loudest in their criticisms and most
urgent in their demands for reform.
This criticism resulted in the
house of representatives in 1896 tax
ing the position that no appropria-
ton would be made to maintain this
institution until a joint committee
of both houses had been appointed
to investigate the cause of these
| had the honor of be-
ing a member of that committee,
which visited your beautiful city
just about one year ago. l leave it
to you, fellow citizens. of any COM
mittee ever endeavored more faith
fully to discharge their duties. Ev-
cry possible witness that could be
heard of or who desired to testify
before the committee was given full
opportunity to doso. If any person
desired to testify in secret session of
the committee rather than in open
public session, such person was Civ
en- his choice, and SO impressed were
the committee with the necessity of
getting at the exact truth an obtain
ing the fullest informtoin with re-
gard to the affairs of the Industrial
Institute that they declined all of
the numerous offers of social atten-
ton on the part of your good and
citizens; they commenced
work as soon as they reached CO.
lumbus and worked necessarily
from that time up to within two
hours or SO before they left your
city. Even after all the witnesses
had been examined, the committee
in session two hours, wait
ing for any other witness that might
desire to testify to come before
them Thus, it will be seen, and l
think all of you will agree that that
committee exhausted every resource
to get at the full and exact truth
with re gard to the affairs of this in
They made a report which
was adopted by both houses. 1t was
expected that the govern
or would send in a message to the
Legislature recommending such
as would carry out the
will of the Legislature as shown by
the adoption Of this report. 1t was
necessary for him to do, because the
act creating the institution had been
passed many years before and this
being a special session of the Legis-
lature no legislation other than APP
preparation and revenue bills could
be considered unless specially rec
commended by the governor. The
bill was prepared and one of the sen
ators, warm personal friend and
of the governor and who
was ON that committee, without a
hesitation took the bill to
the governor, not dreaming that
there would be any opposition on
his part to carry out this needed
and necessary reform. To the aston
ishment of this senator as expressed
the governor declined to do so. Thus
the I1eoislai1lra was Iaff with no