The Semi-weekly leader. (Brookhaven, Miss.) 1905-1941, 1906-05-26
THE NEXT CAMPAIGN.
Some Timely Thoughts for Lincoln COun-
People to Consider.

Editor of The Leader: Before
any one is announced for any
county Office at the election to be
held next year, and while it is not
known who will be candidates for
thn various places to be filled by
the voters of Lincoln county, /
desire to say few things for the
sober and thoughtful considera-
ton of our people, which they
can give calmer and more unpre-
judiced consideration than they
are apt to do after the campaign
is opened and their prejudices and
personal preferences are being
appealed to by those whose self.
ish interest it may be to in.
fuence and mislead them to the
injury of the whole county. What
| shall say IS not to help any par
ticular man or set of men, but
honestly intended for what be-
lieve to be for the good of the
people of Lincoln county in gen.
eral. / hope it will be considered
by all who read it in the same
honest spirit.
1t is notorious that the last
political campaign in this county
was the rottenest and most scandal
Gus ever known since carpetbag
times, on account of the &se of
money by candidates and their
friends to corrupt voters.
Men who had before been con-
sidered honorable and men of
principle, became what might be
aptly termed political prostitutes
and sold their time and whatever
influence they had to the candi-
date who would pay the tiggest
price. Some we're like the
most degraded. of prostitutes.
They sold themselves to every
candidate for the same Office who
would pay their price, and, like
the prostitute, with all shame
and virtue gone, were false to all.
In that campaign it became, as far
as some of the most important
county Offices we're concerned, not
what man was best qualified for
the office or which was the honest
choice of the people, but ques-
tion of which could command the
most money to pay for workers
and votes.
A few months ago prominent
citizen of this county was called
on to make an address at public
school meeting at one of our pro-
gressive county schools, and he
took occasion to tell his hearers
some very practical truths that it
will be worth while for them and
all of the rest of our people to
consider, if they consult their own
and their children's future. He
compllmented them on the efforts
they were putting forth for the
education of their children, the
improvement of their school prop
erty and the deep interest they
we're showing in the cause of pub
lie education, as compared with
times past; then he referred to the
corruption in county politics, of
which | have just been speaking,
and its evil effects and told them
they we're making great mistake
to be striving to educate their
boys and qualify them IN that way
for high and honorable public
positions, if this political corrup-
tion is to continue. You had bet
ter keep your children in the
field, he said, make all the money
you can raising cotton, and when
your boy wants an Office, pay the
cash and buy it for him, if you
have saved up money enough, for
that will be about the only way
he will ever get one, if things 60
on like they have started. Edu-
cation, honesty, fitness, high
character, such as every right
thinking parent wants to see his
children have, won't be in it in
Lincoln county hereafter, unless
the people come to the front and
stamp out dirty political methods
and place premium on honest
merit, and give the poor man as
well as the one with money, a
chance to hold office, if he desires.
Then the speaker went on, still
arguing for the future good OF
the boys and girls of Lincoln
county, as we'll as of his grown
hearers, and made a very unpal.
atable statement to some Of bis
audience. He said the people
of Lincoln county, in politics.
judged by the last campaign, had
gone back and commenced copy
ing after the negroes. In Radical
days in Mississippi, he said, when
all the negroes Of age could vote,
carpet bag and scaIlawag politi.
clans would take,a little money OF
make some sort of trade with
few negro politicians and leaders,