Macon beacon. [volume] (Macon, Miss.) 1859-1995, 1902-07-19
STATEMENT OF GOV. LONGING


~. -. huSH, recently appeared in the
yicksburg Herald, which charges
Governor Longino, in effect, with
having attempted to make a COM
pact with Rush whereby the State
treasury loan scandal was to be
hushed up in the interest of all par
Ties. Before leaving yesterday after
noon for Water Valley the governor
gave out an interview fatty denying
the charge. The Herald article re-
terred to was as follows:
Our acquaintance with Nj. Rush
has been scant and wholly void of
pleasing impressions. His only
claim on this paper is that Of a man
unJustIy singled out of his gang for
prosecution. This entities him to
publication Of the following, request
ed and authorized by him through a
friend:
When the transaction was dis
covered Longlno sent Raiford to me
atmy home in Senatobia, Miss, with
proposition from Longino that if |
would resign the position Of capitol
commissioner and the presidency of
the Mississippi Fire Insurance Asso-
citation that would be a solution Of
the whole matter; that A. G. Wilson
would not then compel him to report
the shortage; that Showers and Raj
ford could continue in office. Fur
thermore, that my resignation of the
two positions had no relation what
ever to my connection, supposed or
actual, with the treasury matter, but
was solely for the benefit Of Showers
and Raiford, who were guilty techni-
calIy Of violating the law
"Ihe Herald does not, Of course,
youch for the yeracity of this story.
1t would be deemed improbable but
for the absolutely maccountable
courseof Governor Longino through
out the whole affair; his discovery
and silence as to the shortage in
July; the delay in the August count
sufficient for the replacement of the
100000 of jackson loans, but not
for the Memphis 100000; his fail
ure in instituting prosecution
against Showers and Raiford when
the embezzlemcnt was discovered as
directed by law; and his apparent
favor Of the policy Of eXempting
them from punishment; his zeal in
pursuing Armistead, the Memphis
borrower, when the Jackson borrow
ers could be had without going into
another State for them. These
things, with the trial proceedings,
have prepared the public mind for a
WIDE range OF Dellel ana disbelief
After reading the foregoing Gov
ernor Longlno replied ihat the state
ment was utterly untrue; that ne a,
never lntrusted MT haiIord WIN
any such message to Rush, nor was
any person ever authorized by nm
to communicate any such message;
that he ana demand UnconditIonaiiy'
Rush's resignation from the c2Pitol
commission alter learning OF ms
connection with the treasury snort
age, and that the sad resignation
was handed to the governor by
Rush.s attorney without condluollS'
The governor says that "hen he
counted the money IN July, as re-
quired by section l37 Of the constltu-
ton, and found S4oo9o less IN tne
treasury than the DOCKS called lor'
which the treasurer stated was a sPe-
cioI silver deposit IN !, OahN mace ! nee g
essary py reason ol "allO u Iooi'' ~
the vault to contain lhe silver m
stead OF OelnS Slteis u. sl'e 1870, o3 ~,
he certlneu 'le Ia5' l:e4 aS iI?uilou ,,,oy ~
law ana l5s ne saiI 1ni,. V'lr,aoe nmsnonors wa, ;n
printed N H- ,n' o,.iaans pI - tbo Gdmmor.
Jackson, I new oo5 W1''%nsi %n ib;nts ,lC IN the
elol Appear, an12 ne nlnt Sit"E,i I,i,, u N 'I''
VlckSpufB lieFa'u' Hoouv ., Yu,, ~ a.
AscGr'alnlng oy oossnr4,Ipii ,,to5 - a. 1nIv 'lv
time me money @ WV was ,,,,It 1J+,o woa not r nm.
aforesaid t9a5 '4e So '4Il, tbon "aT and 0f bare D
duly crowded T ne tnSm rot',ro ANU N ,'lH, tbe
urged the treasurer e 10 boS icIut tbo tJ treos e
vault the sad 'llSe5 "iy' Ta ;n,,ro ,,Ig rL'%f ;ts
urer promised 10 40, ~ s,,, InSulg l,' ~,
return to the yault m the 6ong.HUa 5o,n4 III odn G
the next Gay alIet INC 'Gui'u ,,,r;t;og n't%
request on the treasurer H. N fo1Inm;nS Tnr'S
for its said return tn. ana t' at rna Iglro"s sro1
ls a copy OIL tne i''''i u
Showers to-"',' "a ,oot
jackson, Miss, Vi July ysLOio ~, lgGd, Tsoa.-
"Hon. Robert Showers ola'e ! fea'-
urer, Jackson, MISS
"Dear sir-In my. opinion the 9
reasonsdo not nowexistwhich seemed
to make it proper some time ago to
remove from the vault of the treas !.
ury a portion of the silver money !, OF II
the State to special repositories Tor |,
better safety. | therefore have the
honor to request that you will now