The Columbus weekly dispatch. (Columbus, Miss.) 1902-1905, 1903-03-12
FOXS FIRST GUN.
A Synopsis of Hon. Fuller Fox's Opening Speech
at Biloxi Saturday Night.


opened his cam paign
in earnest last Saturday night at
Biloxi speaking to large au-
dience. The following synopsis
Of his speech is taken from the
New Orleans Picayune Mr.. Fox
said
II wish to thank Biloxi for
this cordial greeting tonight.
I'd rather be worthy Of the con
fdence Of those who have honor
ed me longest and best than to
be Governor of Mississippi.
After expressing his pleasure
at meeting the Biloxi people and
some Introductory remarks, Col
onel Fox entered upon his ad
dress. which was extempor and
listened to attentively.
Mr.. Fox read the following
paragraph from an editorial head
ed Branded in the Biloxi Re
view:
The merits of Fox, if he has
such, are hidden in the contem-
plation of the influence which
has induced his candidacy, Ref
cree" Wilson, who, posing as a
Democrat, is serving the devil
to have negro postmasters foisted
upon the white people of the
State. "
Mr.. Fox said that similar state
ments had been made by other
papers in the State and that he
had but one answer to them. He
said he would do a little brand
ing on his own account, and de
clared that Any statement that
Edgar Wilson had ever said or
done anything which induced
my candidacy was lie as black
as the heart of the man who in
vented it or the man who inspir-
ed it.
Relative to the dispatch from
Ellisville, saying that Mr.. Fox
had entered a combination with
Longino and McLaurin as against
Senator Money for Senator he
denounced it as a falsehood; that
very many of Senator Money 5
closest and most in flu entail
friends and neighbors were sup
porting him cordially, as also
were very many of the friends
of Senator McLaurin and Cover
nor Longino; that he was can
didate of no faction; that he would
rather be a constable than Gov
ernor of Mississippi, with col
lar around his neck pledged to
take orders from any man or set
of men; that i'll he were nominated
the Governor s office should be
no clearing house for the settle
ment Of political debts; that ap-
pOintments to Office should not
be political commodities, put on
the market in payment of politi-
cal services.
Mr.. Fox said he was satisfied
no such combination as referred
to exists, as he had been init
mately associated with both Sen
ator McLaurin and Senator Mon
ey, and believed their relations
to be cordial.
In reference to the education
of the negro, Colonel Fox said
that the question had been fully
considered by General George
and his coworkers in the Consti-
tutional Convention; that in the
Constitution which they framed
every provision regarding the re
lation of the two races to each
other was one harmonious whole,
the paramount purpose of which
was to secure white supremacy.
One of these provisions was that
relating to our public school sys-
TEN, and after full consideration
they determined that it was wise
and necessary to put it in as it
is; that the provision requiring
an educational qualification for
voters would perhaps not stand
the test of law unless the Consti-
tuition also provided an opportu-
nifty for all voters alike to attain
that qualification by the public
school system.
He also declared that in the
recent Alabama Constitutional
Convention the subject was thor
T.