davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The leader. [volume] (Brookhaven, Miss.) 1895-1905, 1904-01-23
GOV. VARDAMAN'S
INAUGURAL ADDRESS.

liable to the ability of her public SER
wants and the financial integrity of the
State to have its paper banded about
like the overdue obligation of der
elicit bankrupt. believe that perma-
nent public improvements should be
made and that portion of the burden
should be borne by posterity who will
enjoy it's use. There is no economy
and less justice in requiring the pres
ent generation to pay for this capitol
building with money worth to the tax
payers ten per cent per annum, when
the State could borrow the money for
three per cent. | am in favor of is
suing bonds in an amount sufficient to
supply the deficit in the treasury, re-
duce the taxes, and let the money re-
main in the hands Of the wealth pro-
ducers of the State. The improvement
of public roads by taxation and work
ing them with convict labor, under the
direction of competent State and
county officers, to be selected as the
legislature may provide. There is no
matter in which the people living in
the rural districts are more materially
interested than the improvement of
the public highways. 1t is indispensa-
BILE to their welfare and to the devel-
opment of the material, mental and
moral possibilities of the State; the
abolition of the board of control, and
substituting therefor a department of
the State government, to be under the
direction of one man, selected as the
legislature may provide, whose duty it
shall be to direct and supervise the
working of the convicts as the law
may prescribe. The disadvantages of
the present system are, that the re-
sponsibility is divided between five
men, whose other official duties, If
properly looked after, will consume all
of their time. 1t presents case where
no one is responsible for the acts of
five. Anc iher reason-the duties of
this office require special qualifications
and training which the governor, at
torney-general and railroad commits
sion may not possess; State deposito-
ries which will facilitate the collection
of taxes and disbursement of public
funds, prevent the congestion of mon
ey in the treasury, and keep it in cir
MISUNDERSTANDING the beneficent
function for which money was created,
and at the same time, add to the
States revenue. 1t is contemplated,
of course, that such laws shall be en-
acted as will render impossible the
loss of any of the States funds by pee
ulation, bad investments, or misfor-
tune on the part of the borrower; and
also to provide against the possibility
of the depository becoming a corrupt
ing influence in politics; economy in
the expenditure of public funds, lest
the burdens of government should op-
press and discourage labor; the en-
couragement of agriculture, the foun-
dalton of all material wealth; "a well
disciplined militia" properly main
tained-"our best reliance in peace
and for the first moments of war;" to
curtail the appointive power of the
governor and enlarge the elective priv
The leader. [volume] (Brookhaven, Miss.) 1895-1905, 1904-01-23
zg89@228gg9@
GOV. JAMES X. VARDAMAN.

ilege of the people-the surest means
of preserving democratic institutions
and promoting honest government. l
believe there is less danger in the pos
sible mistakes of the people than in
the assumed inerrancy or superior
wisdom of the chief executive; the
present primary election law perfected
by eliminating the electoral and plu-
rality features, prescribing the sever
est punishment for the improper use
of money and other fraudulent meth
DDS to control the elections; the main
tenance of system of free public
schools, which will afford equal oppor-
tunities to all of the children of the
State to receive instruction necessary
to equip them for the duties of life
and the performance of the functions
of citizenship. One of the most ra-
tional and profitable duties of free
government, it SENS to me, is to edu-
cate its children. Education means
only the development of the good there
is in man-the vitalizing of those DOR
mant forces which build and complete
that potential moral entity called char
acter. 1t is q wise economy in this,
that If a man or citizen be made bet
ter by education, the government will
share his improvement, and the en-
lightened moral sentiment will write
the laws of the land. But when l
speak of the government educating its
children, | wish it understood that l
do not mean that it is the duty. or the
hope of the State to give every boy
and girl a technical education or a
course at college. That is practically
impossible. We have colleges and uni
versities which the State must main
tain and maintain properly, but the
first, the paramount, duty of the State.
is to provide means for giving in
struction, at least, in the rudimentary
branches, to those children whose pc
culiar environment and impecunious
condition render it impossible for
them to get any other way. If the
State will place at the door of all her
children an opportunity to obtain even
a common school education, such as is
given in the best graded public
schools, she will have done well.
want to impress this truth as | see it,
that 1t is of much more Importance to
start the child on the road to an edu-
cation-to lay the foundation in well
directed common school-than it is to
finish it in government-suppor
university or college. If the founda-
ton be properly laid, and there is any
merit in the child, it will complete the
superstructure without governmental
aid. 1t should be the policy of the
State to do for the citizen only that
which the citizen can1ot do for him--
self The best type of man is the self
developed man. / am deeply interest
ed in the beginning. Like the acorn
shaken from the twig by the passing
breeze, it falls into the dust below, and
while it contains within Its little shell
the germ Of the great oak, 1t remains
an acorn still, until the rain falls and
moistens the earth, the life-giving rays
of the sun pierce its mould. and, burst
The leader. [volume] (Brookhaven, Miss.) 1895-1905, 1904-01-23
By Way of Contrast.

A very strong argument in favor OF
State repositories could have been
found last week by any one who could
have watched the janitors at the
building handling the bags of silver
that were shipped to the State treas,
urer's office. Fifty-three thousand dol
lars was sent up from the subtrcasury
in New Orleans to the State treasury.
It was all silver and made mary large
sacks. In the first place it cost $50
to transport the money from New Or
leans to Jackson. 1t took much hand
ling to get it to Jackson. 1t took q
wagon and good pair of horses TO
haul it from the express office to the
capitol, and after it was landed at
the capitol it required a force Of five
negroes about three hours TO move it
from the wagon and stock it in the
vaults of the treasury. To see the me-
groes handling it in sacks, like it was
rice or meal, impressed many with
the awkwardness of the system.
The leader. [volume] (Brookhaven, Miss.) 1895-1905, 1904-01-23
THURSDAY. JANUARY "a.

Olly the lower house of the legis-
lature was in session today, the SEN
ate being absent on junketing trip
to the new Sunfower convict farm.
The feature of the house session was
the report of the committee on ap-
preparations regarding the annual ap-
preparation for the support of the COM
mon schools, and recommending that
81, 125,000, not including the poll taxes
retained in the counties where collect
ed, be set aside fer this purpose.
For the first time this session q
minority committee report was sub
mitted, signed by six members, Messrs.
D. L. Ross, G. S. Stevens, T. E. Will
liams, T. E. Caruthers, ]. E. Caradine
and S. N. Collier, and somewhat
strange to relate, the minority favored
a larger appropriation than the ma
jority. urging that $1,250,00O be set
aside as al annual allowance for the
schools, which is the same figure as
that for the past two years.
The minority report recites that the
amount recommended by the majority
is not sufficient to maintain the schools
for the constitutional period of four
months, and that there is no necessity
for cutting down the amount, in view
OF the present prosperous condition of
the State The opinion largely pre-
walls that the minority report will be
adopted The bill will be called up for
pas sage at an early date.
Mr. Greaves offered a bill to amend
Section 1892 of the Code, in reference
to the unlawful sale of liquors, so as
to increase the, penalty and make the
Imprisonment mandatory.
Nothing further of special interest
developed during the day. and the
house adjourned until Friday.
The leader. [volume] (Brookhaven, Miss.) 1895-1905, 1904-01-23
CHANGING Court Terms.

By the time the present legislature
finishes its work it is probable that
the time of holding the chancery and
circuit court terms of nearly every
county in the State will have been
changed. 1t 81 ems impossible to make
a satisfactory ARA lgement of court
terms in Mississippi, as the law on
the subject is being continually tink-
cred with, but at this session 1t will
be imperative to make some changes,
owing to the strong likelihood of new
districts being created, especially in
the southern part of the State. Some
Of the circuit judges and chancellor5
in the northern part of the State be-
lieve that their court terms could be
more satisfactorily arranged, and bills
looking to this end will be introduced
next week
The leader. [volume] (Brookhaven, Miss.) 1895-1905, 1904-01-23
Uniform Text Books.

No sort of fight seems to be antici-
pated on the school book question, and
a bill providing for uniformity salts
factory to all will doubtless be intro
duced and passed. There is no lobby
on the ground. Indeed. the lobbyist
does not seem to be here at this SEES
sion for any purpose. and the members
Of the legislature will apparently have
20 annoyance from this source.
The leader. [volume] (Brookhaven, Miss.) 1895-1905, 1904-01-23

An unheard-of severity has been
adopted by the city fathers of Hopes
ton, ILL.,, who have prohibited all young
men and young women. who can not
give a good reason therefor, from "go-
ing down to the depot to see the trains
come in" There has, of course, been
much criticism for many years of this
practice, which prevails at almost ev-
cry small town in the United States.
But it is a criticism that was never ex-
pected to crystalize into a regulation
nv law
The leader. [volume] (Brookhaven, Miss.) 1895-1905, 1904-01-23

The eXtradition Of kratz from Mex
leo to ST. Louis to answer to an indict-
ment for bribery stands alone in the
annals of international jurisprudence,
the result marking an epoch in the in
tercourse of nations The extradition
was purely an act Of comfy on the
part of Mexico, and was not, as some
papers insist, because the amended
treaty with Mexico was retroactive.
The leader. [volume] (Brookhaven, Miss.) 1895-1905, 1904-01-23

Worlds fair steam railways carry
ing persons to and from the grounds
at the rate of at least thirty thousand
per hour, with possibilities of increas-
ing the rate as circumstances require,
in addition to the tremendous hourly
capacity of the Transit lines, and the
capacity of automobile-bus, carriage
and cab lines, fully solve the problem
Of transportation in St. Louis.
The leader. [volume] (Brookhaven, Miss.) 1895-1905, 1904-01-23

The combination was rather funny,
but legitimately within the courtesies.
Representative James Kennedy, OF
Youngstown, o., has been taking lib
critics with his boyhood friend, Rep
resentative Hogg, of Colorado De-
string to introduce Mr.. Hogg to Repre-
sentative Hedge, of Iowa, Mr.. Kennedy
led his friend around to the Iowan's
desk. "Hedge-Hogg, was his laconic
exclamation as the two met.
The leader. [volume] (Brookhaven, Miss.) 1895-1905, 1904-01-23

The mikado told ex-Gov. Taft of the
Philippines that Japan is warm adj
mirer of the United States. Taft could
have truthfully said, in response, that
this sentiment is reciprocated here.
Japan has many warm friends in this
country. The United States, in fact,
is SO friendly to both Japan and Rus
STA that it wishes TO see all trouble be-
tween the two averted.
The leader. [volume] (Brookhaven, Miss.) 1895-1905, 1904-01-23
WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 10.
The house and senate have displaye

The mouse and senate nave displayed
a very manifest tendency to get at
loggerheads with each other concern
ing matters requiring joint attention
This was shown in the house today
when that body, by vote of So to SO,
declined to accept the invitation Of
the governor and board of control to
visit the new Sunflower con-
vict farm, and the senate will
make the trip alone, leaving
the city on a special train at
9 o'clock tonight and reaching the
prison station at Parchman by day
light Thursday morning. A few mem
bers of the house, who do not feel
called upon to observe the majority
action, accompany the senate on the
trip, among the number being several
members of the house committee on
prison affairs.
A large number of bills were Of
fered in both houses, 100 measures
having been introduced in the house
and seventy-four in the senate up to
date.
A conflict has arisen between the
two houses regarding the Insertion
of the amendment to section 206 in
the constitution, but it will probably
be Strengthened out in a few days.
Outside of a resolution introduced
IN the house by Mr. Heidelberg, re-
quiring the State chemist to be sum
moned before the house committee on
agriculture, when needed, to give such
information in regard to fertilizer
contents as may be desired, there was
nothing of special interest transpired
in either house. Many bills were in
troduced in both the senate and the
house, but all were on unimportant
subjects, or on matters covered in
previously introduced bills on the
same subjects, and both houses ad-
iourned, the senate until Friday.
The leader. [volume] (Brookhaven, Miss.) 1895-1905, 1904-01-23

The appointment of Maj.-Gen. Adna
r. Chaffee to be lieutenant general,
vice Gen. S. B. NJ. Young, retired from
active service, is specially noteworthy
for one reason It is the first time in
the history of the regular army Of the
United States that one of its members
has risen from a private in the ranks
to become its commander. Gen. Young.
his predecessor, had brilliant career
and went from the bottom to the top.
hut his original enlistment. in 1851,
was as private in a Pennsylvania yolun-
teer regiment. It was not until after
the close of the civil war that he. en-
tered the regular army.
The leader. [volume] (Brookhaven, Miss.) 1895-1905, 1904-01-23

Japan is not an enemy to be despised
1t can retreat no farther if the Rus
slams choose to crowd upon it terri
torially. There are several important
considerations that might we'll lead
Russia to avoid war with Japan if it
can be done by clearer definition OF
purpose
The leader. [volume] (Brookhaven, Miss.) 1895-1905, 1904-01-23

The former superintendent Of the
st. Louis insane asylum states that he
was handicapped by the rule that his
subordinates must be appointed by ma
chine bosses. AS a natural result, the
institution was filled with grafters. Pa
tients were robbed even of food.
The leader. [volume] (Brookhaven, Miss.) 1895-1905, 1904-01-23
Liquor LEGISLATION.

Whisky is a subject that will not
down in the legislature, although much
whisky has been put down since the
lawmakers met. New laws and amend
ments of all sorts relating to the
liquor traffic have been offered in the
two houses, and the end is not yet in
sight. While the attempt is made to
secure constitutional prohibition, at
the same time a desire is manifest to
make the local option laws more
stringent in case the further move
ment should fail
The latest measure of this kind to
be introduced is bill by Mr.. Duncan,
prohibiting railroad or express agents
from delivering packages of liquor 10
minors, whether the liquors were or
dered shipped in the names of such
minors or the names Of other persons.
While the object of this bill is doubt
less commendable, it is easy to see
how it can be practically nullifed by
liquor dealers in case it should be
adopted, as very few liquor houses now
send out package goods bearing labels,
and an express or railroad agent could
not be clothed with authority to in
vestigate the contents of each pack.
age handled by him.
The leader. [volume] (Brookhaven, Miss.) 1895-1905, 1904-01-23

A st. Petersburg paper observes that
Japan can do Russia no harm, unless 1t
captures one OF the strong fortresses on
the eastern border of Asia, feat be-
lieved to be impossible. Is it to be in
ferred that the Russians will shut
themselves up in their strongholds, and
play a defensive waiting game?
The leader. [volume] (Brookhaven, Miss.) 1895-1905, 1904-01-23

The Worlds fair will be monument
to the enterprise of st. Louis and the
west Already the buildings are a
study in architectural beauty; and the
completed perfection will offer many a
treat to the eyes of him who seeks for
beauty or of him who seeks for pleas
ure. But it's enduring quality lies in
the congregation there of so much of
the fruit of mans endeavor, from which
can come the benefit of IN exchange
of ideas, of suggestion and information
The leader. [volume] (Brookhaven, Miss.) 1895-1905, 1904-01-23

A medical journal says that in the
continued use of the eyes in such work
as sewing, typewriting, bookkeeping.
reading and studying the saving point
is looking up from the work at short
intervals and looking around the room.
This practiced every ten or fifteen min
utes relieves the muscular tension and
rests the eyes.
The leader. [volume] (Brookhaven, Miss.) 1895-1905, 1904-01-23

Generals Stewart, of Tennessee;
Buckner, of Kentucky; Stephen D.
Lee, of Mississippi, and Wheeler, OF
Alabama, are surviving confederate
lieutenant generals. The list of veter-
ans of this rank is not as small as has
been represented in some quarters.
The leader. [volume] (Brookhaven, Miss.) 1895-1905, 1904-01-23

The position assumed by Japan in
the pending controversy is that she
must refuse to accept the Russian pro-
posal that neutral zone embracing
nearly one-third of Corea be estab-
lished and must insist upon the main
tenance of the territorial integrity of
both China and Corea, although willing
to recognize Russia's special interests
in Manchuria in return for the recog-
milton by Russia of Japan's special in
terestS in COrea.
The leader. [volume] (Brookhaven, Miss.) 1895-1905, 1904-01-23
sheriffs Oppose the Bill.

Strong opposition is developing OF
the part of the sheriffs throughout the
State to the bill introduced in the
house, providing for repeal of the
present law which requires all foreign
writs sent to sheriffs for execution
to be accompanied by the proper fee
for execution. A number of members
have received letters from their coun-
ty sheriffs pointing out that the repeal
of the law would work a great hard
ship on esheriffs. When a sheriff exc
cutes foreign writ he has no way
to collect the fee from the party in
whose benefit the writ is issued. and
the code of 1892 requires that the fee
for execution must accompany the writ
CT the sheriff need not executa The
same. The sheriffs say that there is
no good reason for repeating the law;
under the old system the sheriT of
Kinds county, for example, lost sever
al thousand dollars in fees on suca
writs which he was then compelled 10
execute without any recourse for his
fees
The leader. [volume] (Brookhaven, Miss.) 1895-1905, 1904-01-23
WIN Be a Fioht to the Finish.

The prohibitionists are very active
and very determined to push the pro-
posed constitutional amendment maxi
ing the sale of liquor unconstitutional.
The committee having the matter in
adopt the proposed amendment, which
is to be introduced at an early date.
The prohibitionists claim a majority
Of each house, but there are indica-
tions of vigorous and determined op-
position and the measure will not have
the smooth sailing anticipated.
The leader. [volume] (Brookhaven, Miss.) 1895-1905, 1904-01-23

From Toronto, Canada, comes news
that contains valuable object lesson
on the Importance oe discipline and
GOODNESS as additional precautions
against fire. The Hamilton Street
school, in that city, was emptied If
its nearly 800 pupils in less ;nan two
minutes, when a fire broke out, every
child marching out in order. The build
ing was three stories in height and
contained u rooms. Hal a panic &C.
Cured, there would have been great
loss of life, as the fire gained Roadway
and destroyed the school in short
time
The leader. [volume] (Brookhaven, Miss.) 1895-1905, 1904-01-23

The chief of the Cherokee nation in
Indian territory is reported to be suf-
fering with the govt. This puts the
Carlisle school away to the rear in pro-
viding evidence that the noble red man
is capable of acquiring civilization and
it's con-comitants.
The leader. [volume] (Brookhaven, Miss.) 1895-1905, 1904-01-23
ABOUT SOME BILLS.
Has a cinch on His Ioh-

1t is apparent that no change will
be made to the back tax laws further
than to raise the limit from 1885 up
to 1895, as suggested by the revenue
agent. The general sentiment OF the
Legislature is to have the back taxes
collected where they have escaped the
assessors, and the revenue agent will
not be ilterfered with.
The leader. [volume] (Brookhaven, Miss.) 1895-1905, 1904-01-23
The Judiclary divorce.

Senator Smiths bill seeking to ''di.
vorce the Judiciary from politics" is
the subject of much comment among
lawmakers, and the assertion has been
made that the proposed measure is nn.
constitutional on the ground that il
would be an abridgment of personal
liberty if enacted, especially that fea-
ture which prohibits members of the
judiciary from serving on campaign
committees or soliciting votes in aid OF
any candidate This opinion of the
bill has been expressed by one of the
leading members of the judiciary, and
seems TO be a rather general impress.
ion concerning 1t. At the same time
1t is not denied that the supreme and
circuit judges and chalcelloFs shousi
keep their fingers out of politics, Cd.
pecially while the appointiYe systQea
prevails ia the Stata.
The leader. [volume] (Brookhaven, Miss.) 1895-1905, 1904-01-23
Want Exemption.

A strong effort will be made at this
legislative session to secure the ex-
emption from taxation of all money
loaned at rateeof interest not exceed
ing per cent. The opinion is held
by many that if money loaned az this
rate is exempted it will make loans
easier to obtain and also prevent much
of the willful perjury now engaged in
concerning solvent credit by capital.
lists. Combined with this movement
will be an effort to make the legal rate
of interest per cent, and placing tina
maximum at 10 per cent, interest in
excess of that amount to be classed
as uSury.
The leader. [volume] (Brookhaven, Miss.) 1895-1905, 1904-01-23
Acoustics Imnroued.

The acoustic properties of the two
legislative halls have been consider
ably improved since the marble-tiled
floors were carpeted, and the business
of the house and senate can now be
transacted without the confusion
which prevailed during the first week.
The carpeting Of the house floor is
temporary, consisting. mainly OF rub
Der mats and strips. Later in the SEES.
sion the arrangement of the seats vii:
be changed so, as to place the men,
bers nearer the speakers stand ana
arrange visitors lobby in the rear.
The leader. [volume] (Brookhaven, Miss.) 1895-1905, 1904-01-23

Maryland's governor says the state
should be governed only by those citi-
zens who, by their intelligence, their
hereditary and their interests in the
welfare of the commonwealth, are best
fitted for citizenship.
The leader. [volume] (Brookhaven, Miss.) 1895-1905, 1904-01-23

In London, recently, a swan of I'M
certain age was served up at a ban
quet. AS the bird was being brought
in the orchestra played Lohengrin' s
Swan Song" The latter was a sue
cess, but the verdict was that the
former would better have been left
alive.