The leader., 1899-03-22
ALLEN AND MclAURI
Meet in Joint Debate Opening of
the Senatorial Campaign.
Gathering of Big Guns From Every Part
Of the statc--Consressma Williams
Not Candidate for Senator.
Bitter Personalities Rife.


WixoxA, Miss, March l6.-About 1000 pri-
ys,e citizens ard 200 oficeho!ders or would be
otieeholders of high and low degree greeted
Gov. McLaurn and Congressman Alien, VIII,
cane together In joint debate here today.
the first OF the campaign over the United States
seaaorship. In the morning the candidates for
governor mldi their appearance and declared
their platforms. and in the afternoon Messrs.
McLaurn, Ailea aad Hon. John Sharp VIII
hams addressed the multitude.
Politically, II was genial dag. The big guns
Of the state we're here. Aliens friends were
numerous, ami equally so were those Of Nc
Laurn. Congressman Williams Is not candi
date for senator He candidly made This state
pent at the beginning of his address. At the
close Of IN hours discourse many OF those who
heard the Young congressman wished he was.
Allen Leads OF.
Hon Shed Hill introduced Mr.. Allen at 2:3o.
Mr.. Alien spoke with much warmth, and dur
ing the progress of his speech turned repeatedly
to Coy McIlurn as he specified the various
charges he made against the governors admin
siraliOn. nr. Allen opened with a reference to
the congressional session jast closed, which he
tory OF the country. lie hit at the expansion
policy of the presen. administration, and criu-
cised especially the war now being waged for
possession Of the Philippines. He did not like
The idea Of conquest in the far East and said we
had gotten CoatrOl OF few thousand islands
over there. He did not exactly remember how
many, and expressed regret that he expected to
die without visiting all OF them. As 10 taking
mp the White mans burden he thought we OF the
South had as many burdens on our hands as we
ecu attend 10 without going out into the mid
die of the Pacific for new material
Gov MCLaurn had said in his speech at
Meridian that he would no: have been candi-
date for the United states senate had his ad
mlniStraion rs governor been Endorsed as
Democratic Administration should be by those
who claimed to be Democrats Hal GOV. Nc
Laurn ven the Demo Gratis of the State an ad-
minstrdliun which they could indorSe he would
no. have been candidate for the senate against
MCLaurin.
He refused 10 be classed with the Palmer and
Buckncr crowd. He had made a record on the
silver Issue before anybody knew McLaurins
position. lie charged the governor with forcing
false issues. McLaurin claimed to be on the
chicago platform. but his name did not appear
IN Gov McLaurin was tryin. to inject into
Inc campaign the issue that the Illinois Central
Railroad wanted TO defeat him for The senate.
He had never heard anybody make the charge
except the governor himself III the company
wanted to defeat anybody, why didn't they go
alter Writ Adams, who was responsible for the
back tax collections the governor claimed to be
responsible for. He would give the company
cefuhcate that GOV. McIaurin had nothing to
40 Win II. Mr.. Allen read an extract from the
NeStINie News, published in Simpson county,
Which reported the governor as charging that
certain rlch g0ldbugs had reviled him for eating
greens with knife and maligned him for being
"h OK driver, Mr. Allen said the charges only
existed IN the governors Imagination. He had
hihsei been an OK driver ami no one had ever
eeAsGrcd him for it. GOV. McLanrin had gone
INTO Office under the most favorable auspices.
lie charged that the governor had regarded
Tue constitution when il suited his purposes and
ignored ii when otherwise Upon this charge
ne Ms'anced the appointment OF Chancellor
Adam Byrd, of Neshoba county. Mr.. Byrd, he
eon'ended had been appointed in violation of
tae constitution, because Mr. Byrd was mem
Der OF the legislature which created the ONCE
10 Which he had been appointed.
Gov. McLaurin Follows.
Gov. McLaurin followed Mr. Alien.
After Affirming his loyalty TO Democracy and
ea!i9s he wanted primary, Gov. McLaurin
said:
nov. NOW let me discuss briefly some OF the issues
Hi"t nave been presented against me.
nave endeav0red as far as | am able to do so
" nave lust decision OF the suits involving the
1leStIon OF Indebtedness OF the Illinois Central
nalfoad Company and NaZoo 4 Miss ssippi
SN,".eS hallrcad Company for back taxes TO The
T.dic and TO the counties on the line OF the
a na12p Mississippi Valley Railro~i Company,
,S ud nave enieayorei to have the laws SO made
,,nat These two great corporations should not
nave The opportunity to postpone the pay
,ha OF Their just taxes 10 support the laws
nit MA. pIoect their properly, while other
p pSop nave been compelled 10 pay their taxes
promptly when due.
nave recommended such course 10 the leg
,iH.suic, ana, for doing so, have been charged
NV, NV" oaa idl'n ana attempted reputation on tile
p" 'au ui lhe State. 1t is charged that by my
Is volnendation TO the legislature TO repeal the
laws law when allowed the railroad company to de-
a., "a" NE payment of taxes Ion, SINCE due, and
s ulpu u Is admitted the legislature has con
,.n 'u'.oudl rlsht TO peal, | have attempted 10
e "Ne the eases then in litigation out Of the
e eoals' No intelligent lawyer believes the
IIaaIge. The suits then pending would not have
WNat ahnectGd, but the collection OF jus. debts
"9uid have been secured,
Tan, m ISsi' as VIII be seen by reference to house
ssnthudi, on pages 1914, il9 and 40 Gov Stone
lion t td TO the legislature for their consldera-
s noa Dill which had the same purpose In view,
S snu 'ns house OF representatives. passed 1t by
, tole OF 80 TO s. Having passed the house SO
isag 10 me session-being the day before the
At sSldtufc adJ0urnei-the senate did not have
Co. opportunity TO vote on it. It Is sure that
II o y. stone would have approved the bill II IL
h,, nau pe"n passed; otherwise he would not
Spne submitted 1t 10 the legislature for their
ia ne railroad company has never been entitled
sm %ny exemption from taxation. II claimed ex-
rem, 'on from taxation until 1t could earn per
ST,. on lhe cost OF its construction.
uliGStl0na Tod IN
ana TO the jury.
panv was submitted to the jury whether the COM
s a.! ndd earned per cent. on the cost Of con-
H. euoh, and the jury found that 1t had.
cor, mds submitted TO the court whether the
ANA appsany Mad ever under the law an exemption,
leu she court decided that 1t had never had any
regal exemption
wa. .hst portion OF the press which has In some
nsr otcOiiie the mouthpiece OF the railroad COM
pshy say that it Is all right for the people TO ac-
hsin y, usclsons OF the court In other cases as
sbo.s sne law In this case, the courts decision
eS;unu oe repudiated. In other words, the de-
Sta,s Vi the court and the constitution OF the
ana INA. may well both be binding upon merchants
hntt ..uneenahics ana farmers and labor,ug men,
rs,inna. II VIII not do 10 require these two great
Ina, ,sa companies to be subjected 10 them
Am IN sley rise above constitutions aud courts.
fha, ir VI nose who believe that the same law
shoalS applied 10 the humblest man In the State
rsilroatV e applied 10 those great and powerful
i ,Sse company has heen lavish IN It's expendi-
i,s o, ~ money In the state. 1t has done SO for
man pIont and benefit exactly as the humble
inss.,p ats hls iabors and his lew pennies In
neaes IN the State. They, the railroad