The Aberdeen weekly. [volume] (Aberdeen, Miss.) 1878-1933, 1902-05-30
Statesmen for Legislature.

Never in the history Of Missis-
sippi will a more progressive and
intelligent Legislature be needed
than ia 1904. The state is on the
verge OF q great leap towards
Developments, industries and en-
terprises that are new to her people
and that require judicious laws to
foster. The happy idea OF
economic production both OF field
and factory and the splendid local
facilities for converting the raw
material into manufactured articles
on the soil where it is produced ID
taking hold of the people OF the
state and needs to be encouraged
by wise legislation. The advan-
tages the state affords for the
manufacture of cotton fabrics and
cotton seed products is attracting
large mill owners with their plants
this way. They recognize the
economy of making the finished
article in the section where every
requisite is at hand. The saving
of transportation charges on the
raw material and the small cost at
which force producing minerals
can be obtained affords margin
on the factory output that places
it beyond the competition Of arti-
cles produced in a less favored
section. These extraordinary in
ducements 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 mani
fest than subsequent to 1904. and
the legislature of Mississippi in
in that year will largely decide
what part of the influx will locate
here. Next year this State will
advertise her attractions at the
greatest exposition the world has
ever known, will impress her OBJ
vious advantages upon the multi
tudes that will be assembled at st.
Louis and will turn u tide of in
vestors thitherward whose first in
vestigation will be into the govern
mental conditions of the state. IT
the laws are not wholesome and
are unfavorable to the industries
they contemplate establishing. they
will invest elsewhere.
The above is set forth to en-
phasize that Mississippi needs
statesmen to compose her legisla-
sure in 1904 The citizens of every
county in the State should discard
the ruinOus belief, that because the
position pays a small salary busy |
men would not accept it if elected.
This is not the case, though it is
true that men of this class will not
run q rough and tumble hurdle
race. The position is one of honor
and not of emolument. The small
salary is attached to meet the per-
sonal expense of the member and
il not the only compensation for
his services. The man who 90
CONSTITUTES it and seeks the place
for the stipend only il unfit in
ability and mind to discharge the
trust or to bear the honor. The
word candidate should not be used
in connection with q legislative
Office. II should be q misnomer
in that relation. The people
should invest the position with
dignity and honor by calling mon
Of peculiar fitness to represent
them and discountenanoe the
who seeks the place on
horseback. Then, and not till then,
will the best qualified mon CON-
pose the legislature Of our State.
Il il reiterated that statesmen .
lre needed for tho legislature Of
1904. Now IL the time to cot the /
ball rolling to get them. We need
hem from every county in the !
tate % that the assembly will be !
ani1orm and harmonious. The
peess should agitate the question !
md insist that the people select :
hem.