The leader. [volume] (Brookhaven, Miss.) 1895-1905, 1899-04-05

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fact--in the face of the plain letter
of the constitution, Gov. McLaurir
gives as pretsxt for not reappoint
ing Judge Cooper the fact that he
was lot eligible on account OF hav'
ing removed from his district. Why
did he not think OF this before he
had recalled his letter of acceptance
is question that one might natur'
ally ask. Ought the govelno to tri
fie with so serious q question az
thisa Ought he to play fast and
loose with 30 important q question
as the appointment of judge OF the
Supreme benefit
AN ADMINISTRATION OF Elk
PLANTATION.
Ever since the extraordinary ses.
sion of 1897 the people of Mississip-
pi have been treated to something
novel and unheard of in the history
of any democratic administration.
Three separate, distinct letters have
been written by the governor ex-
planning his position or apologizing
for his mistakes or acknowledging
with tears and contrition his serious
offence, against good morals and
good manners and his violation of
the decorum and dignity which
should characterize an incumbent OF
the high Office of chief executive of
the state of Mississippi. In addition
to this, commencing in August 1897
his excellency has visited very near
ly every county in the state of Mis-
sissippi, attending courts and speak
ing and explaining acts of his as
governor and defending charges
made against his administration.
The governor certainly felt that
there was urgent necessity upon
him to do this, otherwise he would
not have abandoned the funeral cor
tege of Gen. George at the city of
Jackson when so many other distin-
guished citizens of Mississippi deem
ed it privilege to do honor to the
memory of this great man and have
fastened to Neshoba county to make
his first speech defending himself
and assailing the Legislature. He
does not deny this charge and can
not do it. 1t has always been
thought that the governor was a
candidate for the United States SEN
ate, open and avowed but notwith-
standing an interview, which has
passed unchallenged until his Me-
ridian speech, published from Wash
ington, September. /, 1897, we did
not learn that this was a fact until
his speech at Meridian and then he
announced his formal candidacy.
If he was not a candidate long prior
to that, then why this necessity of
going all over the state to make
speeches. Manifestly it must have
been because the governor was pain
fully aware of the fact that his ad-
ministration was losing ground in
the confidence and respect of the
people and we thus see democratic
governor unanimously nominated in
less than two years after he was
nominated forced to 60 to every
county in the state to defend his
administration before the people.
GEN. GEORGES EXPENSES.
The governor in his speech at
Meridian in defending himself
against the charge repeatedly made
and which created great scandal
and great modification throughout
this state, that he had not, after he
had requested that the remains of
Gen. George be allowed to lie in
state at Jackson pay the trifiing
sum incident to this expense out of
the contingent fund, takes the
ground that no authority was vest
ed in him to pay this sum of money
from the executive contingent fund
and INDUCES in assertions of his
own willingness to have paid the
entire bill out of his own purse but
for his absolute inability to do so.
The governor omitted to answer an
other charge which was made by me
in my Meridian speech, to- THAI
with this bill still unpaid he had tel
Mrs. Walthall asking that
Gen. Walthalrs remains might he
brought to jackson and the ques-
ton was asked,-how he expected
to pay the expenses incident to such
a ceremony in honor of Gen. Wal
thalfs memory if the bill for the ex-
JnnIdnvof 70 Gnva So
funeral ceremonies were unpaid and
could not be paid from the contin-
gent fund. He made no answer to
this inquiry. Since that speech was
delivered l have received informa-
ton from a source which is unques-
toned and which if challenged or
denied will be substantiated that
when Gen Walthall passed away,
Col. r. B. Banks, Hon. Chas. Lee
and Hon. s. S. Calhoon went to
Gov. McLaurin and asked him to
wire Mrs. Walthall to allow ie SEN
ator's remains to go to jackson and
lie in state. On. their way to the
govel nor's Office they met him on
the street and stated to him what
they desired. The governor answer
ed that he had just returned from
the telegraph Office and had sent
just such message as they wanted
him to send. Judge Calhoon then
asked the governor if there was any
doubt about his right to pay the ex-
penses incident to these ceremonies
in honor to Gen. Walthall out of the
executive contingent fund and to
this the governor replied EMPHAT.
ICALLY-"NOT AT ALL"
Is it possible that the governor
acute legal mind can draw legal
distinction between the right to pay
out of the executive contingent fund
any expenses in honor to Gen. Wal
thall and at the same time say that