The Greenville times. [volume] (Greenville, Miss.) 1868-1917, 1899-03-18
CAN WE AFFORD TO LOSE HIM

II think the Nicaragua canal
will be built said Hon. H.
Fletcher, a congressman from
Minneapolis, who is a guest OF the
st. Charles.
Congressman Fletcher is a Re
publican from the word go, lie
has been in the lower house OF
congress from Minneapolis for
six consecutive years and is now
entering upon his fourth term
He has been recognized all oyer
the country as a great friend OF
river and harbor improvement.
LET me say one thing in con
nection with this Natter added
the congressman from Minneapolis
.'and that is that the people Of the
state of Mississippi and ! should
say the people Of the Mississippi
river valley, could make no greater
mistake in their political history
then to allow some opposition TO
cause Mr.. CatOhings to retire from
the committee on rivers and har-
bors. 1t is understood in con
gress that there is a sentiment up
in his district against his retain
ing this position on that committee
owing to his sound money views
Any such opposition would he a
great mistake. Mr.. Catchings
is a Democrat, and am a Repu6-
lican, therefore what | say IN TINS
matter cannot be misconstrued.
There is no member of that COM
mittee who can secure the appro-
priations for Mississippi river I'M
provements that he can, because
of his long association with the
work and because of his close CON
lpections in other things, which
has given HIM power and influence
sufficient to make these demands.
| | hope the Southern people Will
consider this matter seriously
Picsyune,
In the midst of all the obloquy
heaped on the State by an ignor-
ant, venal and incompetent admin
istration; in spite of demagoglsm'
nepotism, backwoodsism-in short
in spite of McLaurinism, Misslsslp-
ri has yet been saved from becom-
ing a national by-word, a scorn
and a Kissing, chiefly through the
influence and personality of one
man. There is no member OF the
House of Representatives who
Yields such power over the
makers of laws and moulders OF
sentiment as Thomas G. Catchings'
He represents, in national esteem,
not only his district, but Missls-
sippi; and not Mississippi alone,
but the interests of the whole
lower valley and those OF the ma
ton IN controlling and utilizing
its greatest natural highway In
his eulogium published above Con
gresham Fletcher does not appea
to the people of a single congress
ion al district of Mississippi II
warning them against the loss OF
Mr.. Catchipgs from the rivers anc
harbors committee. he appeals
to the people of the State OF Miss
isSippi, to the people of the Miss
issippi river valley, to the people
of the whole South. In this he
does not go astray. The Other
three quarters of the Union have
far surpassed the South in wealth
power, progress and development
Even the other states of the Soutt
have surpassed Mississippi in tins
respect. A comparatively sparse
population, a reputation for law
lessness and ignorance which IS
alas not unfounded, and a state
administration representative 81
those characteristics, have brought
Mississippi to a pass in the sister
hood of states in which she can IL
afford to spare any representative
whe reflects credit upon her
much less the one Whe stands Sc
high in national esteem that thu
fact of his being a Mississippiar
redeems the state, and makes her
although one of the last in con
sideration, yet leader in one Of
the most important questions Of
the day-the creation of a great
national highway through th'
midst OF Il splendid land whose
development is only possible by
the accomplishment of his work
-
ECHOES FROM WINONA.
Interest In the speeches at Wi