Okolona messenger. (Okolona, Miss.) 1900-current, 1905-03-08

you for your WOrkR Who we're they, and how
~ pItied the gray hairs OF my inquistor, or then
and there / would have given him blow between
the eyes. As it was, l turned on my heel with a
sneer OF contempt and left his presence hope
forever
'The story of The Okolona States has never been
truly told, though it was by far one Of the most re
markable rOmances in newspaper history. 1t was
founded by a certain Captain James A. GlanVille,
formerly Of the Confederate army, in 1872. COL A.
Y. Harper, also a late Confederate and now con
nected with the government postal service in this
city, went into partnership with Ganville soon after
the paper was put on foot and short time after
ward became sole proprietor of the concern.
SIN 1876 after An editorial career of five years in
Ohio, New York and Indiana, went to Mississippi.
was a mere youth in that old day, aud was driven
to change my habitat by what I consider the treach
cry OF the Northern Democracy. l had been brought
up to believe In free trade, state sovereignty white
suffrage aud commercial union Of Che West and
South. In 1871 'new departure was taken by the
Northern Democrats under the leadership of Clement
L. Vallandingham, departure that ignored these
issues--and not only ignored them, but recognized
all the results Of the war.
Crank Hurd was furious over the backsliding,
and so was I. He sWore to me at his hotel in
Columbus, O.-the Neal-that he never would sub.
init to it, and l vowed the same. l went to my
home at Urbana, o. and in the next Issue Of my
naper-the Union began TO fight for the old JET.
u
il this monograph. john COckrell, now OF the New
York Morning A ivertiser, was then the editorial
engineer of the Cincinnati Enquirer, and he began
to guy me at a great rate OF course the hpenny-
bit papers of my party followed suit, and I soon
found myself standing alone. Well, went to New
York for a brief spell, and then became editor Of
the Fort Wayne (Ind.) Daily Sentinel, and later
city editor OF the Indianapolis Daily Sentinel But
destiny drove me back to Ohio again, and COekrell
resumed his editorial squibs at my expense, till
6nllly l said:
81 will 20 South, where the grand old party Of
my father is still faithful to the preoepts Of Jeffer
son. So I went to Mississippi. didn't know a
soul in the state, but I wrote to Major W. II.
WOrthngton, the editor Of the Columbus, Miss,
Democrat, telling him who and where ] was and
what / wanted My reason for writing to Major
WOrthingtOn was this He had managed a states
rights paper in ST. Louis, Mo-, just after the war
= paper called The States-tO which the uncle after
whom l am named was bis iavorite contributor.
Maior WOrthingUOn secured me place at once on
The 0kOOna States.
''OkolOna was at that time (1876) place OF 500
population at least 1000 OF whom were black. The
States had only 500 subscribers, and very limited
patronage, but was in a position then to take a
very small salary, and besides liked the free and
easy independence Of the sheet. Well, the years
ran round till one March morning ia 1873 sit.
ting at my window, thinking Of nothing in partic-
ular, when the foreman OF the Office rushed 10 and
demanded at least three stieksIul OF copy had
sent all the exchanges out to Harper; had written
up all the local news / knew; / had touched bed
rock on editorials, and I vas at my wits ends.
"sWe lack just three sticks Of enough quoth the
foreman 'and it's about time TO 60 to press.' ]
ransacked the drawer in which I kept my clip
pings It was empty; but away back in a crevice /
found squib from the old Washington National
Republican. It read about as follows:
. Fourteen years after the war; We Of the North
must admit that the COnfederates have at last cap
tured the Capitol
(This paragraph referred to the fact that the
Democracy were at last in power IN both branches
OF COngreEs.)
II pasted the clipping On sheet Of neWsprint, and
while sharpening my pencil, the foreman said:
Z" Now make it phat--the phatter the BETTER
sIn q spirit Of fun I began:
eyes,
Thank God!
We have captured the Capitol.