The Semi-weekly leader. (Brookhaven, Miss.) 1905-1941, 1907-08-10

a liberal amount of capital and q
disposition to dominate those who
do not agree with them politically
or otherwise. to boss the politics
of this county and city, and put
down with boycott any who do
not take their orders from them
and execute their will.
So far as The Leader is con-
cerned, we want to say that on all
matters which, in any way, Sc
riously affect the public welfare,
it is edited with absolute conscien-
tious regard for what is con-
sidered best for the whole peo-
pie, We would regard ourself
traitor to the people at large
and unworthy to hold the position
of an editor, if, when such ques-
tions arse, we did not subordi-
nate private interests and consid-
erations to the public welfare.
We do not state it tauntingly or
buastingly, but as a fact, that the
gentlemen who have seen fit to
withdraw their patronage from
The Leader on account of its hon
est expression of opinion on this,
or any other question, haven't
money, advertising patronage, or
influence enough, and never will
have, to control the editorial poll
cy or expressions of The Leader,
lif to carry out their views or re-
ceive their favor, necessitates our
going counter to what we believe
is right and for the good of the
people at large. This is our con-
ception of editorial responsibility
and duty and the one which has
been and will be maintained at all
hazards.
In order that some other things
may be made plain, beyond
peradventure, we wish to say that
The Leader is not going to
suffer itself to be FALSELY
placed in the attitude of trying to
array town against country, class
against class or doing anything
that is disIoyal to Brookhaven
and her people, or the right.
Neither are we going to be put in
the false light of fighting any
Williams man, as such. So far
from the latter, we believe there
are scores if not hundreds of Will
Hams men in Brookhaven and
! Lincoln county who will not in
dorse or approve the effort that
has. been already made to muzzle a
free press and stifie free political
|speech and action.
So far from anything of this
kind being our intention, we are
going to stand up squarely for
Brookhaven as has always been
our policy, as we'll as for all citi-
zens who believe in political tol.
Grafton and freedom of speech
and press.
! And, furthermore, we wish il
distinctly understood that if q
boycott warfare is to be carried
lon, such as that already begun,
and it becomes necessary to main
tain the integrity of our position
as above stated, in order to avoid
Eall misunderstanding and false
representation as to where the
Brookhaven business men have
| located themselves on a PROPOSE
tion such as this, we will publish
and keep standing on the from
page of The Leader the names oI
all the business firms of this city
that are fighting the paper; and
in parallel column the names q
Jail those who are not, SO that al
voters who do business here anC
who believe in free press, free
speech, and freedom of politica
action, may clearly discern th'
situation, and 10 the bestowal 0.
their patronage and the applica
tion Of that two-edged tool, tht
Boycott, be able to properly dis
criminate and govern themselves
accordingly.