The Kemper herald. (Scooba, Miss.) 1875-1908, 1907-09-19
Somewhat Political.
,ditor KEMpER HERALD:

HAtt0i GmA ah ~ a.
Since the excitement and cor
tention occasioned by the recent
State aud County elections has
SO satisfactorily subsidized, it seems.
that this should be a time when
it would not be out of place for
us to engage ourselves in a few
reflections upon some of the
methods employed in our recent
political campaign and their ct
tects upon the results.
In matters pertaining to State
candidates-their merits and de
merits and the methods OF their
supporters, we are comparatively
tree to express our opinions about
certain things; but when it comes
to the affairs of the County can
didates. we are compelled to bring
into play a very high grade of
tact-in tact, when the writer has
mentioned certain things pertain
ing thereto which he has not con.
sidered altogether right, he has
been told that this was not the
proper thing for an ex candidate
to do if he expected political pre-
ferment in the future, and in con-
sequence of this advise he has
been reminded: OF the Spartan
youth who, to prove himself
clever at concealment, was CON-
PEELED to keep hidden under his
cloak an animal that was clawine
and biting with such energy that
it made the situation extremely
uncomfortable.
Right here let Us ask ourselves
the question. iss the flea under
current with a. good many of our
political aspirants---as well rs a
large contingent 1T voters in all
our campaigns-tha to be sues
cesstul a man must drop to a
lower plane Of ethics than that
which guides US in our social and
business relati o ms? Beneficial
from a practical standpoint, is it
IA good plan for a man who wants
office, even it he has no idea Gt
moral obligation, to make up his
mind that to succeed he must be
dishonest?
There was a time, not many
years since, when a designing
politician might get control OF a
convention, and profit thereby
but the aspect of the political
field has been SO changed by our
present election law that there is
very little opportunity left for
the real political boss.
It is true that men resort to
unfair means i'll political speeches
and in circulating certain kinds
OF literature, and under certain
conditions thereby win votes in
our State elections. to the disad
vantage of their opponents; but
these methods were required to
be handled with care. Take the
incidents OF our recent guberna-
torial race a certain candidate
whotat she beginning was con-
sidered toHfand very little chance
of being elected "made war on
another who, in the earlier stages
of the campaign, was considered
one of the most prominent, and
it is generally conceded that the
methods Of the iormerehelped to
prevent the latter from getting
his name on the ticket in the
second primary; but tits gener-
ally known that Developments
Immediately before the second
primary were such etaat. if the
time elapsing betweM the two
had been extended a week or ten
days, the man who claimed to be
the. great and only champion Of
the every dear plain people"
would very probably have been
beaten by a much greater major
ity than zoos.
/. .Itis, true that a candidate who
is a stranger can go into the rural
districts andaell the farmers that
be has beenAraised' ia the cot
ton patch and that he wore cer>
tain kinds OF clothes and went
baretosted alAs ate all his greens
with d .kUifG and thereby gain
the votes 81. the sentimental and
unthinking class; but we are to
be congratulated on the iact that
this class OF voters are gradually
decreasing in number, and it is
the writer's opinion that a few
more campaigns the same as the
one just ended will make this
class too small to be seriously
reckoned with.
1t i to be regretted that the
outlook in our County politics
does not seem to be SO promising,
as there are evils therein which
will be harder to overcome thar
those nnrtaininO TO orr State mol