Okolona messenger. (Okolona, Miss.) 1900-current, 1903-08-05

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No man Of ordinary reasoa can mis-
understand the situation as it lie pre-
sented to him on the issue for Gov
ernor and United States senator.
To these two positions the attention
of the entire nation has been focassed.
As Mississippi votes the people of two
thirds Of the nation will agree and
accept as decisive.
Nor has the issue been drawn by
Mississlppians.
The President of the nation made
the Issue, and he represents the ma
chinsry Of the tWo-thirds OF the
nation referred to-. When President
Roosevelt sat down to dine with
Booker t. Washington, be tacitly said
to the people OF the nation, This Is
the proper i'd g."
The South dissented from his posi-
ton, denounced his policy suggesting
equality between the races, and
howled. Mississippi howled as loud
as any Southern state. The question
now presented 10 the voter of this
state is, ibid we mean that howl, or
were we just trying to see how must
cal our voices would sound?"
The issue is presented fairly and
squarely in The selection of Governor
and United States senator. How are
you going to vote on it now, is the
question?
This brings 1t down to each and
every voter in the state personally.
Brings it to you. Are you ready to
assume the responsibility?
Major Vardaman and Senator Money
have declared themselves against the
Presidents position. The opponents
Of these two gentlemen have assumed
the defense Of Mr.. Roosevelt and
taken issue directly upon this issue
with Major Vardamsn and Senator
Money.
This is the official and political at
titude OF Governor Longino who
asplres to Col. Moneys seat In the
senate. 1t is also the position taken
politically By Judge Ortiz and Senator
Noel.
Can you sustain either OF them in
their position? If so, listen:
On the outcoming Mobile and Ohio
train from st. Louis on Sunday night.
August 2, 1908, the writer of this was
3 passenger. That handsome new
coach recently put on by the company
and in which only white people are
permitted to ride from Mobile to
Cairo, as packed more than half
full of dirty, drunken negroes, mo-tly
males. They puseed into seats be-
side white women, and 10 n in con-
nection with the railraod lnterferred
or objected.
But this was not all: Among the
passengers who entered the car was
3 couple, the woman a clear, white
skinned, sharp featured, light haired,
blue eyed pure blooded white. Her
escort was a black, greasy, drunken
negro man, probably % years old,
whose swagger and insolence to all
surroundings pointed him out as one
Of the toughest of the toughs to be
seen in that sect on of the country.
That negro and white girl sat down
together, surrounded by negroes, and
for half an hour loud talking and
laughing was the order. This was
only softened by most Of the negroes,
who were half drunk falling to sleep
in their seats. The white girl and ne
gro buck we're among those who fell
asleep, and they reclined with the ne
gro's head resting on the white girls
bosom. Numerous passengers gazed
upon the spectacle in disgust, but nc
n %interferred. Some even seemed
to think it made no difference. To
the depraved girl, with such distorted
taste It did make no difference. The
negro was probably better than the
girl. Every one who saw them must
have been impressed with the convic-
ton that the negro was the better o.
two.
But this is not the question at issue
Stop and consider that two-thirds Of
this country tolerate and witness
without 3 visible shudder sucl
scenes from day to day. In Boston
Massachusetts, last year, according t
the statistics, two thousand white wo
men married negro men. What doe
AL this meanP Simply that we ar
drifting toward a~malgomation certain
and sure as q nation.
"Oh - but you say, "the South wi
never drift in that directiOnI"
Won'tit2
Well, look about you and see whs
proportion Of the negroes are pur
black. But we will forbear argumeE