The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1900-12-29
CURRENT TOPICS.

inc Washington correspondent OF the
| New York World says that Representa-
tive Jones, of Virginia. tells this story
on his father: Directly after tho war
Jones senior was sent to the State Sem
ate. An old slave WHO had belonged to
him was also elected to the Senate. The
two drew adjoining seats. Senator Jones
was very courteous, and in addressing
his former slave always called him SEN
ator.
The cd negro stood it for some time
and finally said:
'Massa William, I don like dis Sena-
tor business. KANT l come down to yO
house and visit that cook of yourn? I
sulltinly would like permission to visit
VIC Kitchen
Senator jones was in his library the
other Senator was down in the kitchen
S.sii.n;; the cook
We DO not question the trut!fuIness Of
this stcry, but we will wager i New
ears hat that Representative Jones
never used any sucIl niger talk as the
above. No Virginia negro ever said
'tMassa" and where the Northern folks
got that word is a mystery to US.
The Philadelphia Ledger says:
1T is estimated that the disbursements
made next month by the Government
ana the large corporations for interest
and dividends will amount to "a grand
total of s175,0t0O10. This immense sum
will be- Of course, in cash or it's equIvi-
lent, and will add so much to the float
ing capital of the country. Most OF it
will be reinveSted at once. 1t is in itself
evidence Of prosperity, since most OF
it represents profits made in business,
and these could not have been made I'M
less the businesses were active and re-
nIuneratiEe.
1t is well enough to remember, too, that
this immense capital has been accum-
minated under the gold standard
The Savannah News, in discussing the
political situation in Mississippi, says:
The sentiment Of the people is against
ballot box frauds. They have had enough
Of that sort of thing. Ballot box corrup-
ton or violence has a bad effect upon
the people 1t begins to look, however
as il very large percentage of the peo
PIE were Indifferent to the race problem.
Primaries are now held in the State
ana there is 10 incentive therefore to vote
at the regular elections, and it does not
require the payment Of the poll tax to
vote at a primary. But even if there
were no primary, the people would hardly
take much interest in elections unless
there were two white parties, nearly equal
III strength. Being practically only one
party the people stay at home on cleo
ton days, and keep tie money they
would have to pay as poll tax.
The situation is not at all satisfac-
tory TO the thinking people OF the State,
Improve it. IF it were not that the poll
tax is greatly needed for the support OF
the schools it is probable that nobody
woui' bother about the tax, even though
tan Stale would suffer by letting Few men
con- its affairs.
The taking OF the ballot from the
negro virtually settled one question, but
it opened another That is almost as secj-
o8s. How this latter question is to be
settled 10 one appears to know"
1t Is apparent that this sort of thing
cannot go on Indefinitely The Southern
re.plc are losing interest in politics be
cause there is bu: ore party and we
cannot have a successful form of popu-
lar government w;tlcut two well matched
parties. The solution Of the problem is
not in sight. but it is problem to be
solved \ change III the present state
of affairs must como sooner or later.