The leader., 1899-08-30
MISSISSIPPI MATTERS.
. NOTES OF PAST AND CURRENT EVENTS.
BYJ L. POWER.


toxicated condition, he embroiled himself
with the quarantine officers, who we're en-
gagged in the discharge Of their duty, and
in an effort to protect the citizens OF the
commonwealth from the spread of
dreaded scourge; and, again, by his exhi-
bition of himself in condition of intoxi-
cation to a large number of the citizens OF
the State who were in attendance on the
fair held in the city of Nicksburg in 1895.
We do not approve of the conduct OF the
thief executive in refusing to pay out oil
the executive contingent fund the expenses
incident to the lying in state OF the re-
mains of the Hon. J. H. George in Jackson
Miss, on the ground that such payment
was not authorized by law, when he sub
sequently telegraphed to Washington to
have the remains of Gen. Walthall brought
to jackson. and then expressed the opinion
that he had no doubt that he could pay the
expenses incident to this last occasion out
of the executive funds. We do not APP
prove of the frequent violations by the
chief executive in his appointments OF the
constitution of the State of Mississippi,
which he was sworn to uphold, as Illus
trated in his appointment of Mr. Belk as
special judge in violation of section l5i OF
the constitution, and of Mr.. Adam Byrd to
an Office of profit which had been created
by the legislature of which he had been
member, in violation of section 40 of said
constitution. We do not approve of that
conduct of the chief executive which has
resulted in his veracity being doubted,
questioned and impugned more often by
men of character than ever fell to the lot
of public official of the State of Missls-
sippi before or since it was admitted to
Statehood We do not approve of that in
tense regard shown by the chief executive
in his appointments of the fortunes of his
family and of his own political welfare,
which has not only given to the people In
many instances unworthy officials, but has
had the tendency TO make his appointees
place obedience to their chief above ser
vices to their State. An instance of the
first was furnished in the appointment of
W. X. McLaurin as circuit Judge and OF
the second in the almost wholesale re-
moval of those who occupied judicial posi-
tions when he became governor, whereby
place was made for partisans of the chief
executive.
The committee was proceeding to
roll call on motion to move TO the
capitol, when the keeper of the capitol
was called upon for IA statement as to
the length of time it would take to get
the representative chamber in readi-
ness for the convention, and when he
said about 30 minutes, the roll call was
suspended, and within that time the
convention was called to order in the
hall of the house of representatives.
On motion of Mr.. Cutrer, it was de-
cided to vote for can iidates in this or
der: Secretary of State, Superintend-
ent of educ alton, clerk OF the supreme
court, railroad commissioner Southern
district-there being only one candidate
for each position-and for the others as
follows: Lieutenant governor, auditor,
treasurer. revenue agent, land commits
sioner-tirst and second districts.
For Secretary of State Hon. w. A.
Boyd, of Tippah, proposed the name of
j. l.. Power, of Kinds.
For Superintendent of Education
Mr.. Tombstone, of Simpson, the name
of E ii. Whitfield. of Rankin.
For Clerk of the Supreme Court-Mr.
White. of Harrison, the name of E. w.
Brown, of Copiah.
For Railroad Commissioner, Second
District-Mr. Neville, of Harrison, the
name of 4. q. May, of Simpson.
These gentlemen were each elected
by reclamation, and each, on being in
troduced, accepted with thanks.
Adjourned until am.
Second Day.
On reasSembling at $40 AIM
After discussion, it was ordered that
a committee, to be selected from the
congressional districts, be appointed to
nominate a State executive committee.
For office of lieutenant governor the
following were proposed: I. V. holland,
of Harrison; James L. Harrison, of
Lowndes; f. NJ. BARBER, of Harrison;
w. ii. Wilkinson, of Amte. Judge
Harrison nominated.
For Attorney-General- Nc
Clurg. of Carroll, aud Walter Trotter,
of Montgomery, placed in nomination.
Pending vote, Mr.. Trotter withdrawn,
and Mr.. McClurg nominated.
For Auditor-C. C. Campbell, of
Kinds; w. q. Cole, of Yalobusha; E. j.
Smith, of Monroe. Mr.. lie nominated.
For State Treasurer-Robert j. Stow
ers, of Lafayette; l.. D. Smith, of Kinds.
The maine of j. l.. Gillespie was not
presented. Smith withdrawn and Stow
ers nominated.
For Revenue Agent-Wirt Adams
unanimously nominated.
For Land Commissioning. III. Nall,
of Holmes, and f. j. Marett, of Mar
shall, were propos ID. Mr.. Nall elected.
For Railroad Commissioner, First
District-JOhn ID. McInnis, of Lauder
dale, and j. +. Stanfeld, of Holmes.
were proposed. f. NJ. Lawrence with
drawn. Mclnnis elected.
For Railroad Commissioner, Third
District. j. Fans, of Monroe: J. r.
Binford, of Mont gomery: A. p. Watson,
of Oktibbeha; J. G. Kincannon, of Nox-
ubee; b. f. Thomas, of Grenada, and
j. j. Conan, of Tishomingo, were pre-
sented. A verification of third ballot
showed kincannon, 1872; Conan, 100.
The other candidates withdrew after
first and second ballots
All the successful can didates ex-
pressed their thanks in appropriate
terms.
The following is the State executive
committee:
State at Large j. Hunter Sharp,
Lowndes; George C. Myers, Marshall;
j. w. Cutrer, Coahoma; s. NJ. Roane,
Clay; c. c. Miller, Lauderdale; J. III.
Price, Pike; S. ID. McNair, jefferson.
First District-E. o. Sykes, Jr., Mon
roe; j. NJ. Boon, Alcorn.
Second District-T. R. Maxwell, De-
Soto; c. L. Sivley, Lafayette.
Third District-Walter Sillers, Boil
var; j. T. Lowe, Tunica.