The leader., 1903-01-28

citizen may go there and get alcohol,
drinks. Then, when he has taker
those drinks until his reason is de
throned, temporarily, he commits mur
der; and the same good State, which
has put the dram shop there that he
may drink, turns right about and
hangs him for the murder. To main
tain her respectability and consisten
cy, let the good State of Mississippi
either cease to make criminals OF
cease to,punish them.
1t is notorious that alcoholic drink
is the greatest of all incitants to crime
and one of the greatest demoralizers
and disorganizers of labor. In 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 effectually as possible, this crime
and sloth-producing traffic. 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 it as. easy as possible for her citi-
zens to do right and as difficult as pos
slble for them to do wrong.
The hour has struck when we should
go forward and renounce forever the
alliance which has hitherto existed be-
tween the State and the dram shop.
Any time within the last dozen years
the Prohibitianists of Mississippi, had
they been united on plans and policy,
could have achieved such result. For
them to neglect or fail TO do so with
the opportunity now before them,
would be stupendous mistake. This
year, for the first time in the history
of the State, nominations for every
elective office in Mississippi are to be
made directly by the people themselves
in primary election, with all the safe
guards thrown around the primary
which apply at 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
Mississippi's high-standard elective
franchise laws-thus assuring an
electorate of the people which
should be the very cream of
the States citizenship. Nomina-
tions by the Democratic party pri-
maries will be tantamount to an cleo
toin at the regular election to follow.
If, therefore, Prohibitionists, ninety
nine one-hundredths of whom are
Democrats, will come together, organ
ize and resolve to make this question
an issue in the primary for nomi-
mating Governor and Legislators,
victory will be assured. And, if
due care is exercised in nomina-
ting minor executive officers through
out the State. no fear need be entertain
ed that carefully drawn StateProhibi-
tion law will be enforced. Officers
thus nominated and elected, backed by
Mississippi's able and incorruptible
Judiciary, would reduce the "blind
tiger'' nuisance always exaggerated by
those wishing to bring Prohibition into
disrepute) to the lowest possible mini
mum.
Mississippi occupies a proud and
unique position among her sister
States. Among the first to recognize
the property rights Of her women; first
to establish an Agricultural & Mechan-
ical college for her boys and an Indus
trial college for her girls; first among
her Southern sisters to abolish the
cruel and bloody convict leasing sys-
tenn and to substitute therefor convict
farms under State control; the pioneer
and exemplar of all her Southern sis
terhood in solving the race problem
in politics by constitutional enactment
and elevating the standard of the elec-
tive franchise; first of all to give to her
legal voters a direct individual voice
in the nomination of all elective off
cers,-n let her add to her proud
fame by becoming the first of the
Southern sisterhood to throw off the
degrading yoke of the liquor traffic and
place the dram shop under the same
legal ban to which she long ago con.
signed it's lesser associates in evil, the
gambling den and the brothel.
All friends of Prohibition who are
willing to unite with us in such a
movement are earnestly and cordially
invited to meet in jackson on the
date above named. 1t is desired that
every county in Mississippi :e rep
resented. (Signed)
JOHN d. BILLS, of Alcorn.
w. T. ADAMS. of Alcorn.
G. T. HAMMERLY, of Tishomingo.
B. G. LOWREY, of Tippah.
R. e. PORTER, of Lafayette.
T. M. KEMP, of Lafayette,
r. M. LEAVELL, of Lafayette.
GASTON l.. JONES, of Union.
M. H. ARMOR. of Lowdnes.
N. G. AUGUSTUS. of Washington.
ST.. HEARNE, of CLAY.
WALTER &. HARDIN, of Marshall.
I. H. LOWREY, of Pamela
FRANK J. BARLOW. of Tunica.
c. r. DALE, of Tallahatchie.
E. A. JENNINGS, of Yalobusha.
A. J. BROWN. of Attala,
ROBT. POWELL, OF Madison.
r. III. THOMPSON, of Kinds.
w. T. RATLIFF, of Kinds.
i. I. FITZHUGH, of Kinds,
W. T. LOWREY, of Kinds.
THOS. P, BARR of Hinds.
J, T. BAILEY, of Kinds.
GEO, A. TEUNISSON, of Lawrence.
Il. r. .APPLEWHITE, of Lincoln.
w. +. PARSONS, of Lincoln.
B. 7. HOBBS. of Lincoln.
j. HIRAM MCGEHEE. of Franklin.
w. G. BLACK, of Jackson