The Magnolia gazette. [volume] (Magnolia, Miss.) 1872-current, 1899-06-03

A<AiA1h NIdHGtNGs HAVE UtHU
honored by numerous and re-.
peated requests from citizens OF
our county to become candidate
for re- election to the legislature,
and believing it my duty to them,
and to others who 80 gen erously
aided me in the canvass four years
ago, to answer them publicly, /
VIII ask you to do me the kindness
to let this letter appear in the next
issue Of your paper.
For reasons that would not in
terest the public, but which ma
terially concern myself, have
decided not to enter the race, this
year, for representative. II might
be proper to say, however, that |
could not serve as representative
without financial sacrifice and in
convenience, and | am not in po-
sition to bear the one or the other.
Professional work is claiming
most Of my time, and | think it
expedient for one in my position,
whose responsibilities arc becom-
ing more considerable, to devote
70 such work as much time and
attention as possible.
| know that have a proper re-
gard for the people who elected
me, and that none could be found
who is more anxious than myself
to see their prosperity advance,
or their veal assured. Ii was nv
desire while serving in the legis-
lature to bring home with me as-
surances that beneficial laws
would be enacted and needed
changes made. In truth, ac.
complished but little, and little
indeed was the good accomplished
hy the whole Legislature. MY ef-
forts there, howe er, were nv
best and most constant, and the
solicitations have received late
lylestity that these efforts, though
not fruitful TO any great extent,
have been literally endorsed, and
THAI ny incumbency has not been
disregarded,
! think the next legislature
should pass a resolution, submit
ting 70 the qualified electors al
proposition Of change in regard
10 the school tax and distribution.
] believe the time ID ripe for the
passage of this resolution. Let
each county retain its school
taxes and let those that have
heretofore received our support,
levy a supplemental school tax
for themselves. There would be
no difficulty in reaching this re-
suit with a compulsory law lorl
the collection of poll taxes. The
is briefly this; The Delta
is as rich as the valley Of the
Nile; almost without limit al to
while It's population
exceeds that Of any other terrific
ry Of its area in Mississippi: Yet, |
because of the immense colored
population that pays no poll tax, !
the hill counties-most Of them
poor-are compelled under the
present iniquitous system to take
their white children's money and !
send it to the Delta for the edu-
cation of negroes and a few white
children whose terms Of school
last seven or eight months, and |
whose teachers, black and white, |
receive almost twice as much for
their services as do the best white |
in Pike county.
The negro is practically out of |
politics at present, but the ex-
pense incurred in so disposing of
him is alarming and the results
will be far reaching to the white
who are thus deprived Of
their school money. Disfran-
is not a penalty: it ex-
cites no ambition to support the
government, nor does it stimulate
a desire to vote. A law, to be
affective, must be provided with
4 penalty. 1t is only the vindi-
,atory element in criminal law
hat gives force and vitality to
he statute. Enforce the collec-
ion Of poll taxes and let each
county manage its own schools
and pay for them.
This state ought to enact law
against trusts, such as Texas en-
acted recently. / believe that
his law provides that all who
hereafter become engaged in
trusts in Texas must forfeit both
and interest of all claimsl