Okolona messenger., 1902-06-11

sTATEsRsN FOR LEGISLATURE.
Never n the history Of Mississippi
viii q more progressive and intelli-
gent legislature be needed than 10
1904. The state Is on the verge Of
great leap towards developments, In
dustrles and enterprises that are new
to her people and that require judi
ciOus laws to foster. The happy idea
OF economic production both OF field
and factory and the splendid local
facilities for converting the raw ma
terial into manufactured articles on
the soil where 1t Is produced is taking
hold OF the people Of the state and
needs TO be encouraged by wise legis-
latlon. The advantages the state
affords for the manufacture Of cotton
fabrics and cotton seed products Is
attracting large mill owners with
their plants this way. They recog-
nize the economy OF making the
finished article in the section where
every requisite is at hand. The saw
ing OF transportation charges on the
raw material and the small cost at
which force producing minerals can
be obtained affords a margin on the
factory output that places it beyond
the competition of articles produced
10 less favored section. These ex-
traordinary inducements are pulling
the mill capitalists southwark, but
laws favorable to manufactures are
necessary to decide them to stop in
our own State. At no time will this
disposition be more manifest than
subsequent to 1904, and the Legislature
Of Mississippi in that year will largely
decide what part of the influx Will 10
cate here. Next year this State Will
advertise her attractions at the great
est exposition the world has ever
known, will impress her obvious
advantages upon the multitudes that
will be assembled at st. Louis and
will turn a tide of investors thither-
ward whose first investigation will be
into the governmental conditions oi
the state. If the laws are not whole
some nd are unfavorable to the in
dust they will invest elsewhere.
TT owe is set forth to emphasize
the mississippi needs statesmen to
compose her legislature In 1904. Tue
citizens of every county in the State
should discard the ruinOus belief, that
because the position pays small sala.
~ busy men would not accept it Il
elected. This Is not the case, though
IL is true that men of this class vii
not run a rough and tumble hurdle
race. The position is one OF honor
and not Of emolument. The small
salary is attached to meet the person
al expense of the member and is moi
the only compensation for his ser
vices. The man who so construes Il
and seeks the place for the stipend
only is unfit in ability and mind tC
discharge the trust or to bear the
honor. The word candidate shoulC
not be used in connection with legis
lative office. It should be misnomel
in that relation. The people shoulC
invest the position with dignity anC
honor by calling men of peculiar fit
ness to represent them and discoun'
tance the candidate who seeks tht
place on horseback. Then, and no
tn then, will the best qualified mel
compose the legislature of our State
It Is reiterated that statesmen ar,
needed for the legislature oil 1904
Now is the time to set the ball rolling
TO get them. We need them from
every county in the state 80 that tn
assembly will be uniform and harmo
nious. The press should agitate tn
question and insist that the peopl
select them.-Aberdeen Weekly.