The Tupelo journal. (Tupelo, Miss.) 1876-1924, 1906-09-21


ries to our great nation as a whole
Only five States that are free from COR
rupt influences, legislation and Official
graft. 1t is sad to contemplate when
the nation as whole is considered, but
should be source of great satisfaction
to Mississippians to know that their
great State is yet in the list OF those
wisely governed and under the control
or good and true men. Then 1t Is the
duty of every citizen to do his part to-
ward perpetuation OF this state OF
affairs. When only one State is above
suspicion, let that one be Mississippi.
Ours is great and good State from
many standpoints, and while we may
not show up we'll in the accumulation of
wealth with others, while we have no
cities of consequence and no corpora
tions that control the output OF single
product to make the balance OF the
country pay tribute, we have COM
monwealth of good people who have
: not as yet surrendered to the god OF
mammon or sold their birthright for
mess of pottage.
The perpetuation of this state OF
affairs devolves upon the white SUI
fragists of the State, and the first mat
ter of importance is the election of leg
islators who are aggressive, progressive
and far removed from corrupt intlu-
ences, 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 warn
ing when the State is free from such
conditions and the use of money has not
been resorted to in the past? Fore
warned 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 after
wards. Then let every man put him
self on the watch tower. Twice during
the past few years powerful lobbies
have invaded the corridors of our capt.
toll building during the sessions OF the
legislature. What was accomplished
and the means used may not have been
a reflection upon any one, but famil-
iaritv with such methods and a reluc-
lance to condemn will eventually term
mate in something that will bring
blush of shame to the cheeks OF honest
and true men. Then the necessity OF
selecting the best men for the legisla-
tive bodies, men who know the right
and are not afraid to do it. Our people
should be more alert than ever, war
ranted by a change in prevailing condi-
lions in the State. Mississippi has been
practically free from trust and corpor-
ate influences in the past but change
is taking place. A number OF powerful
corporations are fast gaining hold in
the State and silently but surely consol-
idating certain interests that may not
auger well for the future. The writer
is not charging them with doing what
is not right in the eyes of the law or re-
sorting to unfair means, but the expert
ence of other States should be protited
by and bulwark thrown up that can
not be assailed should such be attempt
ed.
Capital should De invited and encour-
aged to come here and develop the
wonderful resources that we have for
development. No hostility should be
shown, but the contention is that the
capitalist and the one-horse farmer
should stand exactly upon the same
ground and be accorded rights and
privileges upon an equal basis. Then
elect men who will conscientiously pre-
serve 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 writer has been present and as
sisted in the organization of several
trucking associations during the past
two months, the last one being at Cor
NTH. This organization starts off with
a goodly number of farmers banded to-
gether for the trucking business, not
to supercede their general farming
operations, but as side line, with the
intention of increasing as success war;
rants. This effort is being properly
made. 1t is not best for community
to quit planting corn and cotton and
take up vegetable raising altogether,
but to arrange for large number of
people to plant a small acreage each
and then failure would not mean so
much. 1t is not to be judged that
failure is more likely to occur than not,
but there are failures in all lines, the
trucking as well. Then the advice to
go into it moderately is well taken
Corinth is very well situated for
trucking community with city of sew
eral thousand to use the surplus or tahe
care of drop in prices, and with the
aid of the small individual canneries
there is every reason to believe that
success will be the reward of these
pioneers in the trucking industry of
Alcorn county.
The organization of an Alfalfa Club
by a number of the enterprising farmers
of Claiborne county is a move in the
right direction and one that is attract
ing attention all over the State. Alfalfa
is one of the legumes that has proven
profitable in several sections of the
State and will likely soon be one of our
most important crops. The prairies of