Macon beacon. [volume] (Macon, Miss.) 1859-1995, 1902-03-01
MISSISSIPPI MATTERS
NOTES OF PAST AND CURRENT EVENTS.
BY KATE MARKHAM POWER.

NOTES OF PAST AND CURRENT EVENTS.
By KATE MARKHAM POWER.

VS&H& NS&eS&ef&e3eHNGe&,S
1t is a part of Mississippi men and
women to be loyal to the backbone.
Very few natives of the old Bayou
State ever get so far away from
home as to be able to forget it and
the people who dwell back home" In
testimony Of this, we record the action
on February 20, at Dallas, Tex, of
large number Of the States former
citizens now living in the Lone Star
State. A society was formed Of these
Mississippi-Texans, the main object Of
which, as stated by the promoters, is
the aiding and promoting of the Con
federate reunion to be held at Dallas,
April 22-25, 1902, and especially pro
cure the attendance of Mississippians
and eX-Mississippians and extend
them the hospitalities of the occasion"
The test of membership prescribed
was "all Texans who have formerly
been residents Of Mississippi"
w. II. Clark appointed the follow
ing membership committee LAUGH
McLaurin, chairman; U. f. Shott, W.
S. Dudley, Sydney Smith, j. W. Hud-
nall, d. B. Gambler, d. A. Cobb, j. w.
Thompson, L. Q. C. Lamar, W. A.
brennan, Barnett Gibbs and D. H.
Morrow; Mesdames Sydney Smith,
LAUGH McLaurin, George W. Hutche-
son, f. f. Ferguson, j. c. Reall, W. l..
Crawford, Tom P. Crutcher, j. r.
Downs, W. H. Clark and j. W. Crow
dus.
The following committee on infor-
nation was appointed; H. c. Latham,
chairman; George W. Hutcheson, T.
/ c. Elliott, Tom P. Crutcher, Tipp Cobb,
T. G. Terry, E, NJ. Tillman, S. D. Stem
mis- and DR.. H. l.. McLaurin.
The purpose of this committee is to
advertise the reunion and offer to the
public all desired information in refer.
ence thereto. All inquiries addressed
to H, c. Latham, chairman, Dallas,
Tex, will be promptly answered"
This organization can and doubtless
will do much to further the success of
the reunion at Dallas, and our people
will be more than apt to take advan,
tage Of the aid so kindly prolfered
them.
The Dunn liquor bill' as it Is
known, was the nearest approach to
prohibition that could be obtained
from this Legislature. 1t passed both
houses, after considerable discussion.
Its purpose is to restrict the liquor
traffic in towns of less than 500 popu,
lation, without day and night police
protection. The effect of the bill will
be to completely abolish saloons in
Quitman, lssaquena and Sharkey
counties, which are now "wet'-yery
wet 1t will leave only two saloons in
Tunica county both being in the town
of Tunica. 1t will also close eighteen
saloons in Washington county and
make Greenyille general headquarters
for the sale of the cup that cheers"
and does "inebriate," By many it is
considered a long step toward stat
uary' (as an exchange calls it, pro.
hibition, and if the law is enforced
will be splendid thing for country
districts and towns of less than 500
inhabitants, incidentally it may do
much to increase the population of
some of these would-be wet villages.
Some people will do almost anything
to get whisky in their midst (literally
as well as fguratiyely).
In accord with the general thought
on the subject, the session of the pres
ent Legislature was not concluded on
the Goth, but is continuing through
this week, the date of closing having
been set by the Governor at February
%. The Governors first extension
was until February 20, but as the time
drew near it was manifest to all who
were interested that the work could
not by any possibility be completed
After celebrating with great care the
question as to his right, under the
law, to further extend the time, and
after comforting with the Supreme
Court, as well as with other lawyers
in the State, Gov. Longino decided
that the authority was his, and so ex
tended the sitting through February
| By hard work the Legislature may be
able to get through with most of the
work before them, but it will be 6
physical impossibility to clear up al
matters of interest now pending before
the Legislature. To do this thorough
, ly would require at the very least an
other fortnight. Hurried Legislation
is mighty apt to be bad legislation.
, That Gulfport is fast growing int
an export city is constantly receiving
fresh proof by the amount of busi
ness that is being attracted to this
young but vigorous child of the coast
{, One day last week there were fouI
three-masted vessels at her wharves
t making seven vessels of more than 40l
Q tons that have loaded direct from Gulf
D ports wharves since the cutting o
+ the deep water harbor. These wer
loaded with lumber bound for variou
4 ports, Already the great army o
: fruit shippers is inQuiring into Gulf
A ports facilities for handling tie hun
+ dreds of ship loads of fruit that ar
: annually shipped to this country iron
!. the tropics. The town is growing
S there isn't any doubt about it--ant
S we rejoice to chronicle every onwar,
!. stride
0 Brookhaven is another Mississippi
/ town that is growing steadily in siz
g and commercial Importance. Alread
) the distributing point for a large tel
ritory, its Importance grows daily be
rause of its own deyelonment and th