The Magnolia gazette. [volume] (Magnolia, Miss.) 1872-current, 1899-02-15
JONES FOR GOVERNOR
THE LII. GOVERNOR WILL BE
m THE RACE.
He Comes from South mississippi,
and Win Be Formidable
Opponent.


tation Of the democratic executive
committee of Wilkinson county,
the Hon. j H. Jones, at present
lieutenant governor, has consent
ed to make the race for governor,
as will be seen by the following
letter:
Replying to your flattering re-
quest for me to become candi-
date for governor of this great
state beg leave, in acceding
thereto, to give my views on some
of the issues involved, as follows: !:
| am unable to see the necessi-
ty of indulging in lengthy man.
ifesto expressin my own views
on many of the important issues
of the day that more properly be-
long to the sphere of legislation.
An experience in the legislature
of the state of twelve years has
taught me that the governor of
the state is not a very powerful
factor in shaping its laws. 1t is
true he is charged with the duty
of recommending such legislation
as he may deem necessary and
proper, but it does not follow that
his recommendations will be
adopted by the legislative branch
of the government; and they are
verT often entirely ignored by
that department.
tits eminently proper to discuss
all public measures, involving
state interests, in the conduct Of
a campaign but fail to see the
wisdom of laying down an ex-
tensive platform Of principles and
Of proposed measures, which the
candidate, if elected governor,
will have no power to carry out.
] shall, therefore, confine myself
to those duties and obligations
which appertain, peculiarly to the
executive department of the state.
| may say that I am democrat
and stand upon the platform Of
the party adopted at Chicago.
The governor of the state is
clothed with the veto power by
the constitution. My conception
of that grant Of power in our or
ganic law is that it was never de-
signed or intended to enable the
governor to thwarr the expressed
will Of the legislature, or to force
his peculiar views of any pend
ing measures upon that body. 1t
was granted to the executive de-
partment as a safegard and a
check upon the legislative de-
partment, for the purpose OF pre-
venting unconstitutional, or other
legislation, that might prove det-
rimental TO the interests of the
state. It should, therefore, not
be lightly or hastily exercised.
Before invoking the veto power
the governor should be fully con-
yinced, after most pains taking
investigation, that the bill SUBJ
mitted to him is either unconsti-
tuticnal or injurious. He should
bear in mind that the legislature
always numbers among its mem
bers men who are quite the
equals, and sometimes the su
perior of the governor in brain
power; and the consensus of
Judgment OF one hundred and
seventy eight men should always
be entitled to respectful consid-
Grafton when opposed to the
views or wishes Of a single indi-
vidual. For these reasons / reach
the conclusion that however much
the governor may differ with the
legislature on the wisdom or poll
icy OF a proposed law, he has no
moral right to veto bill solely on
the ground that it is not entirely
satisfactory to himself.
The governor is also clothed
with the power of appointment Of
many officers and especially Of
the state judges and chancellors. |
This is a very grave responsible
ity that the constitution imposes
upon the executive. It is eyenI
more than this, it is most sa-
cred trust. and one that, more
than any other trust, should be
faithfully and conscientiously ad-
ministered in the interest of the
people of the state. Upon the
proper selection OF judges and