Greene County herald. (Leakesville, Miss.) 1898-current, 1906-09-21

MISSISSIPPI bears the proud dlstlnct-
ion of being one of the only five states
in the Union that is entirely free
from graft. Had you thought of the
indictment that carries to our great
nation as d whole Only five states
that are free from corrupt influences,
legislation and official graft. 1t is sad
to contemplate when the nation as a
whole is considered, but should be a
source of great satisfaction to Mis-
sissippians to know that their great
state is yet il the list of those wise
iy governed and under the control OF
! good and true men. Then it is the
duty of every citizen to do his part
toward a perpetuation of this state of
affairs. When only one state is above
suspicion, let that one be Mississip
pi. Ours is a great and good state
from any standpoint and while we
may not show up well in the accumu-
lation Of wealth with others, while
We have no cities of consequence and
no corporations that control the out
put of single product to make the
balance of the eauntry pay tribute, we
have commonwealth Of good people
who have not as yet surrendered to god
of mammon or sold their birth-right
for a messof pottage. The perpetua
tion Of this state of affairs devolves
upon the white suffragists Of the state
and the first matter of importance is
the election Of legislators who are ag-
gressive and far removed from cor
rupt influences; men who cannot be
swerved from the right by the use OF
money or the promise of power. But
some one viii want to know, why this
word Of warning when the state is
free from such conditions and the use
of money has not been resorted to il
the pastq Forewarned and alert to
the danger that threatens will do more
to prevent the first offense than ten
times the same energy to correct will
accomplish afterwards. Then let ev-
cry good man put himself ON the watch
tower. Twice during the past few
years powerful lobbies have invaded
the corridors of our Capitol building
during the sessions Of the legislature.
What was accomplished and the Leans
used may not have been reflection up
on any one, but a familiarity with
such methods and a reluctance to con-
demn will eventually terminate in
something that will bring blush of
shame to the cheeks of honest and
true mon. Then the necessity of Sc
lecting the best mel for the legislative
bodies, men who know the right and
are not afraid to do it. Our people
Should be~more alert than ever, war
ranted by change in prevailing con-
dltlons IN the state. Mississippi has
been practically free from trust and
corporate influences in the past but a
change is taking place. A number of
powerful corporations are fast gain
ing a hold in the state and silently
out surely consolidating certain inter
ests that may not anger well for the
the future. The writer is not charg-
ing them with doing what is not right
in the eyes of the law or resorting to
unfair means, but the experience of
other states should be profted by and
a bulwark thrown up that cannot be
assailed should such be accepted. Cap
dtal should be invited and encouraged
TO come here and develop the wonder
full resources that we have for devel-
ment. No hostility should be shown,
but the contention is, that the capital
ist and the one-horse farmer should
stand upon exactly the same ground
and be accorded rights and privileges
upon an equal basis. Then elect men
who will eonsicentiously preserve this
equality, with due regard for the
rights of each. Send your best men
as members of the law-making bodies
and there will be no occasion for alarm
or apprehension that undue influence
has been used for certain or specific
legislation favorable to any class.
The Farmers Union in session at
Texarkana fixed the limit for cotton
at eleven cents and the Cotton Asso-
citation in session at Hot Springs made
the limit ten cents Both organizations
are arranging means to care for the
crop and furnish money on forced
sales so that the market can be fed as
the consumption demands. 1t is to be
sincerely hoped that the great mass
of producers that are in these organ
izations will stand squarely behind the
officials in this matter and that the
producer will in the future receive
for bis product what it is justly worth.
This is the only means by which the
farmer can hope to accomplish any
thing and the success of these organi-
cations mean much to him. Stand by
your organizations and the result will
be. worth much to you in the future.
Be sure to get the schedule of the
Diversified Farming Special" that
will leave Memphis on October 3rd,
for trip over the lines of the I. c.
& Y. & NJ. V. roads in Mississippi. The
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