The Aberdeen weekly. [volume] (Aberdeen, Miss.) 1878-1933, 1902-07-11
The State Campaign.

What ideas will predominate in
State politics next year IS not con-
jectural. even at this incipient
stage of the campaign. The para
mount questions are evident, but
all plans shaping them towards a
material advancement of the State
have not yet been promulgated.
The questions are broad and COM
prehend snch range Of opportu-
nifty for the States progress that
platforms cannot be predicated on
them without we'll considered
thought The educational prob
lem, alone. is complex and presents
difficulties of solution as abstruse
As did that of Euclid. The impor-
tance of this question overshadows
all others, and the plans proposed
by the various candidates as re-
CARDS it, will constitute the prin-
cipal issue upon which the cam
paign must be fought out. Several
plans have been given out by can
didates through the State press
announcing their solution of the
problem. None of them have been
entirely winnowed of chaff nor
meet the emergency. The propo-
sition to divide the school fund
between the two races in proper
ton to the amount of tax paid by
each race, fails entirely, because
there could be brought to its sup
port no argument of moral or con-
stitutional right However, it is
not the aim of this article to con-
demn platforms nor to manufac-
ture them, but to present the situ-
alton IS it appears. Platforms
built upon the vital questions and
evading the obligation to pursue
definite policy in the next admin
istration of State government will
not pass muster before Mississip-
plans at this time. A specific pol
icy favoring the industrial and ed
ucational growth of the State,
pledged by the best brain and
character and free from discrimi-
mating legislation, il. hat the peo-
pie want. The public purpose has
never been more pronounced, nor
the public mind more critical of
platforms projected by candidates
for State or legislative offices than
now. At no time have Mississip-
plans been more jealous of their
! franchise nor more determined TO
discharge it for the advancement
of their State government. They
are not uncertain of what they
want nor unmindful of the splen-
did opportunities that favor the
State and that must be improved
by the next administration. They
will, therefore, demand of each can
didate for State or legislative Office
a confession of where he stands
and what he pledges, and will dis
cuss him as well as his platform
much earlier than ever before
This spirit of patriotic enterprise
cannot be condemned at this time
because Mississippi must merge
into the waiting industrial and ed
ucational era with the next admin
istration. That administration, of
whomever it may consist, must
have been pledged to execute rule
of progress unparalleled in the his
tory of the State. That progress
must be directed along three close
ly related lines-educational adj
vancement, industrial development
and pure government. These three
comprehend the paramount ques-
tions that must be dealt with in
the State campaign, and neither
can be subordinated to the other.
The function of government COM
pretended by each must be pro-
noted by salutary Legislation and
the guidance of wise executive
Who, then, says it is too early
to discuss State issues and the
men representing them? 1t is
not too early. for no policy can