Okolona messenger. (Okolona, Miss.) 1900-current, 1903-01-21

&KAAH Of those In the state
f46leH who favor prohi-
%E signed by 80 gen
tlemen, representing % counties, and
by the three principal officers Of the
Women's Christian Union. The call
is quite lengthy, and recites the status
OF the liquor traffic In the state from a
legslized standpoint for years past
After a lengthy srraignment OF
present conditions In support Of the
proposition to adopt state prOhibi-
ton, the writer's Of the call say;
cit is notorious that alcoholic drink
is the greatest of all ~incltants to crime
and one of the greatest demoralizers
and dIsorganizers Of labor. In a state
with such an immense negro popula.
ton as ours, it should especially con-
Germ our statesmen and all other
thoughtful citizens to remove, as far
and eHectually as possible, this crime
and sloth-producing trafic. The
thought expressed by England's great
statesmen Of the last century should
become the sentiment and policy Of
Mississippi, viz: That the state should
make 1t as easy as possible for her
citizens to do right and rs difficult as
possible for them to do wrong.
"The hour mas struck when we
should 60 forward and renounce for
ever the alliance which has hitherto
existed between the state aud the
dram shop. Any time within the last
dozen years the prohlbltionists of
Mississippi, had they been united on
plans and policy, could have achieved
such q result. For them to neglect or
fail to do 30 with the opportunity now
before them, would re q stupendous
mistake. Next year, for the first
time in the history of the state, nomi-
nations for every elective ONCE in
Mississippi are to be made directly by
the people themselves In . primary
election, with all the safeguards
thrown around the primary which
apply at q regular election. None
will be allowed to participate in the
Democratic party primary but white
qualified electors-persons who have
complied with the conditions of Mis-
sissippi's high-standard elective fran
chise lswS-thus assuring an electOr-
ate Of the people which should be the
very cream Of the states citizenship.
Nominations by the Democratic party
primaries will be tantamount 70 en-
election at the regular election to fol-
low. II therefore, Prohibitionists,
ninety nine one hundredths Of whom
are Democrats, will come toGsther,l
organize and resolve to make this
question an issue In the primary for
nominating a governor and leghAr
tors, victory will be assured. And, IL
due care is exercised in nominating
minor executive officers throughout
the state, no fear need be entertained
that q carefully drawn state Prohibi-
ton law will be enforced. Officers
thus nominated and elected, backed
by Mississippi's able and incompatible
would reduce the "blind
tiger" nuisance always exaggerated
those wishing to bring Prohibition
into disrepute) to the lowest possible
mississippi occupies q proud and
unique position among her sister
Among the first to recognize
the property rights of her women;
first to establish an Agricultural &
Mechanical college for her boys and
an Industrial college for her girls;
first among her Southern sisters to
abolish the cruel and bloody convict
leasing system, and to substitute
therefor convict farms under state
control; the pioneer and exemplar Of
all her Southern sisterhood in solving
the race problem in politics by con-
stitutional enactment and elevating
the standard Of the elective franchise;
first of all to give to her legal voters
3 direct individual voice In the nomi-
nation of all elective Omcers,-now
let her add to her proud fame by be-
coming the first Of the Southern sis
terhood to throw OF the degrading
yoke Of the liquor traffic, and place
the dram shop under the same legal
ban to which she long ago consigned
it's lesser associates in evil, the gam
bling den and the brOthel.
San friends OF Prohibition who are
willing to unite with us In such 8
movement are earnestly and cor
daily invited to meet in Jackson on
the date above named. It is desired
that every county In Mississippi be
represented"
NoTE.-AIl railroads Of the state