Hattiesburg daily progress. (Hattiesburg, Miss.) 18??-1909, 1903-02-17
CAPITAL and
State NEWS.
Special to the Daily Progress.


jackson, Feb. 17.-The attitude OF
President Roosevelt on the race ques-
tion has provoked quite number OF
humorous circumstances IN Mlssls-
sippi. and the latest is from the little
CITY of Columbus, where the driver of
the mail wagon running between the
Mobile and Ohio depot and the post
Office has issued fiat forbiddlng ne
gro postal clerks from riding with
him on his trips. Heretofore the
nostal clerks, white and colored, have
been in the habit Of riding on the
mail wagon to the postoffice to deliver
registered packages, no transfer CLERK
being on duty at the postoffice, but a
day or so since the driver OF the
wagon has lately reached the conclu-
sion that he does not care to be seen
perched up on the same seat with a
nerpo, and the colored clerks are now
walking to and from the depot.
The growing Importance or the
seacoast city of Gulfport as point OF
export to foreign countries, and also
an import trade, is emphasized by
the action of the treasury department
in establishing a custom office at That
point with a deputy collector IN
charge. The Office was secured
through the efforts of Congressman
F. A. McLain and Commissioner
Elect E. J. Bowers, and Collector
Swan has been authorized by the de-
partment to select a deputy who will
be stationed at Gulfport.
During the past year Hon. H. F.
Simrall, head organizer OF the Mis-
sissippi camp of the Woodmen Of the
World, has organized 232 camps in
Mississippi, which is the largest
showing ever made by a fraternal
order in this state within an equal
period of time. The fraternity now
has $4,000 members in Mississippi,
and the phenomenal showing for
the year places it in the front rank
of secret orders in Mississippi. The
annual meeting of the head camp will
be held at Meridian on the 10th, 11th
and 18th of March, and it is expected
that every camp in the state Will be
represented. The organization has
established an official organ at Col
umbus, the "Woodmen Advocate, ="
which has accomplished much good
work in promoting the remarkable
growth.
Grand Master John L. Buckley of
the Mississippi grand lodge, indie
pendent Order of Odd Fellows, has
announced the following appoint
ments to fill existing vacancies: H.
@. Dear, of Enterprise, grand chap
lin, succeeding Rev. James A.
Sharpe, removed from the state; ".
B. Moore, of Laurel, district deupty
grand master to succeed DIR. d. j.
Williams, resigned; Morris Blu
menthal, of Holly Springs, special
district deputy grand master for
for north Mississippi CoviDgton
county has been changed from District
No. I3 to District No. IA.
The rare occurrence Of a negro
being arrested on the charge of big
amy, an offense Of everyday instance
among members of the race, is re-
ported from Clarke county, the
prisoner being negro named Archie
Boyd, who has been taken to Goa
homa county to answer the charge
preferred gainst him by wife No. /.
Boyd is also wanted in Issaquena
county on felony charge, and will
probably be turned over to the
officers of that county.
Hon. F. NJ. Runnels and Hon. j.
". Power are having nip and tuck
race for the office of secretary OF
state, and the contest promises to be
one of the prettiest in the state cam
paign.s Mr.. Runnels is having lot
of nice things said about him by the
brethren of the state press, and his
prominence in the journalistic field IL
valuable aid to his canvass, no les:
than forty papers giving him al
active support On the other hand
the friends of Mr.. Power are work
ing quite energetically and say they
are confident of successful result. Mr.
Power is sending out letters to the
voters By the thousands. Both mel
have excellent records, and mos
commendable feature of the campaign
is the fact that it is placed on a
high plane and free from personalities
The only real issue involved i
simply measuring of popularity.
Several state papers are expressing
4 strong opposition to the endorsement
nlea in the state campaign. Nor
clearly stated. they are opposed {
the principle of re-electing ma
simply because he has made a goo
official. and the declaration is bein
freely expressed that man who ha
been elected to an Office one tim
onght to be satisfied with the honor
hestowed and either look of sometl,in
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