The Brandon news. (Brandon, Miss.) 1892-1961, 1906-10-11

- ~D-~@D-a..s-.'
The advent Of the coli weevil to
Mississippi means changing Of con-
dition and methods. When the weevil
came to Texas the people were not
prepared for him and the resultant
damage was immense. Now, after
several years contract with the pest,
1t is considered by some in the shape
Of blessing rather than curse. AT
first the price Of lands tumbled 20
less than half their former value and
it looked as if the country was ruin
ed; however; with general diversiG-
cation Of the crop and an intelligent
handling of cotton, the ravages of the
weevil has been minimumized and the
country is again becoming prosperous.
There is no reason why Mississippi
should not profit by the experience Of
Texas. If our people would take an
interest in the matter and acquaint
themselves with the condition that
must he met, the damage would not
be nearly so great. 1t was for that
purpose that the writer tried so hard
70 get assistance from the United
Sbates Department Of Agriculture in
waging compaign Of education, pre-
pairing our people for the advent Of
tae wsevil before he got here. There
% no desire to brighten the farmers
Of to unnecessarily alarm them, only
70 create an interest that will insure
their becoming familiarized with what
IS necessary to prevent the grea;
damage done in Texas. The rrelimin
ary meetings of this campaign will b,
attended by prominent people who ar
prepared to give the result Of man.
years experience with the pest If
Texas and Louisiana. These are to b.
followed up by precinct meetings ir
the territory that will first feel thu
effect of the weevil. BY this means the
people can be prepared to handle the
matter sensibly and to their advant-
age. 1t is to be hoped that the inter
est will such as to warrant continu
ance of this campaign.
The people of our great Delta sec
ton have felt that for years they hav'
bSen subject to undue prominence b,
the account Of lawlessness given wide
spread publicity by the press of tn,
country and more especially that o
Memphis, which is largely Mississ-
rppi city. The worm is turning, the
present condition of the city Of Mem
phis being made the subject of scath
ing editorials in some Of the Delt;
Papers. The following from Friar.
Point papers is sample:
"Where is there community of
the same number of feet Of earth
where there is more crime Of every
! known character than in Memphis i?
Where it is unsafe to walk the street
IN the day time; where human life is
so often and wontonly taken that j!
Is scarcely noticed; where a wilful
murderer is released Immediately up
on small bond and never punished
for his crime; where thieves, thugs
and infamous, dives reign supreme
where the most htrocious criminal
cannot be convicted; where the people
Of this "uncivilized" community hes
itate to 60 to transact business be-
cause the officers of the law connot
or do not, protect them from the
hands Of the vicious and lawless ele-
ment that infects every locality in the
city. "While this arraignment Of the
authorities may be little severe, il
is to be hoped that good will comes
from it.
The state and private schools open
ed during the past week and all re-
port record-breaking attendance,
Some were compelled to refuse
a part Of those offering. Mississippi
can boast of number Of the best
educational institutions in the South,
while the country schools are ahead
Of any in the Union. While the
amount spent by our state on educa-
ton might startle some Of the timid.
it has proven splendid investment
and few there are who would endea-
yor to have it curtailed. Mississippi
ans have just cause to be proud Of
the educational institutions Of the
state.