Okolona messenger. (Okolona, Miss.) 1900-current, 1903-07-15
We IusT AS wELL oET READY.

"
Mississippi has something more to do
this year than the selection of a few
people who are to draw the salaries for
the next four years.
The eyes of the nation are turned
Southwark. Before another campaign
year comes to this state in which the
people viii have much interest, thous-
ands Of men now living north Of the
Mason and Dixon line, will have made
their homes in the South and identified
themselves with the grand people here
who are determined to once more make
Dixie bloom like the rose
The cause Of this immigration is not
wholly attributable to any n cause. It
has many phases.
In the first place there are many
communities in the more densely settled
sections Of the country, where as good
men SIS have ever been born are strug-
Cling against odds they cannot over
come. The South, with its boundless
resources and its fertile soil offers them
escape and certain happiness in future.
Lands throughout this state which were
once worth 500 an acre, and even then
could not be purchased except when
some big place had to be divided up
among heirs, have laid untitled and un-
occupied for forty years, and at times
have gone begging for purchasers at a
mere song. This condition has existed
as long as IL can. for the country is
filled with people anxious to avail them
selves Of an opportunity Of securing a
home, and they are coming to the South
land to bring back these deserted and
abandoned fields 80 rich and really val
liable.
Another thing that is to have to do
with an immense immigration to the.
South, and Mississippi win secure its
share, is the fact that the people Of
the South are extending the cordial
hand Of welcome to all coed people who
are looking for a home. There was a
time, when the South was raided by q
horde of undesirable immigrants, men
who came under the impression that
all manner Of scheming could be turned
to quick advantage, when the people
here were not cordial in their welcome,
nor were they to be censured for their
attitude. But that day has gone by -
In its place has grown mp a most kindly
feeling, and this feeling is shared not on
" by those who have lived in the South
from childhood. but also By the adop-
ted sOns and daughters who love it
none the less.
Mississippi has q proud mission to
perform within the next few years. It's
citizenship must naturally change to q
great degree. The establishment Of
industrial enterprises here and there
will bring to Us a new class Of people.
Among them will come those who toll
in every ~avOcatiOn Of life, from the
most skilled artisan to the most humble
mental.
The sections Of the state which hold
out attractions for these new classes Of
people, will 0 0 discover that it is
profitable to encourage this new kind
of toilers. The old time, slow and Oft
times shiftless and Indifferent class Of
labor which has been relied upon
throughout the South, viii either be
forced to enter into competition with
energetic, careful, painstaking labor,
OF move away from many places here
tofore given Ovsr entirely to it. The
towns Of Mississippi will not be infested
By loafers and pensioners upon the
more aggressive class Of citizens in ten
years from today.
We often hear much said about skill
ed labor, and the claim that when skill
ed labor comes into contact with the
common labor the latter must move out.
All labor Is skilled to a certain degree.
It Is skilled labor that produces the cot
ton Of the South. It Is skilled labor
that raises the chickens and gathers the
eggs and the berries and the potatoes
Of Mississippi. But there are various
degrees Of skill, and when there comes
to rs a sufficient supply Of skilled toiI-
ers who r willing to do a dollars
worth Of work IN order to receive a dol
lar In return, or which i~sinspired with
the conviction that it is better to do