The Semi-weekly leader. (Brookhaven, Miss.) 1905-1941, 1907-04-24
Brookhaven, Miss.

ed his to The Eeader for puhlica
tion. It is self-expIanatory:
Brookhaven, Miss,
4 April %, 1907.
Dear Sir After talking the
matter over with several interest,
led parties, all Of whom agree thai
Ian early meeting of all of the
Icounty candidates should be calico
| for discussing matters of mutual
interest, am hereby calling such
La meeting to be held at the court
lhouse in Brookhayen. at II
Io'clock a. m. on Tuesday, April
.[30th, 1907. The subject to be
considered will be methods oil
eIectioneering, and whether or not
the candidates should sign d
pledge not to use unlawful means
to get votes. 1t is desired that
you and every other candidate ar.
range to be present.
Yours very truly,
The Leader desires to unquali
fiedly commend this step on the
part of the candidates to protect
themselves and incidentally to
protect the people and the repu-
tation of Lincoln county against
the evil practices of unprincipled
grafters. The proposed meeting
should be attended and honestly
entered into by every candidate
of the county. Those who do not
do so, will lay themselves open to
suspicion at the very threshold
of the campaign of design to re-
sort to unlawful and unfair meth
DDS in the conduct of their canvass
against their competitors, and
should be estimated by all good
citizens of the county according
ly.
The good citizens of the county
should not leave it to the candi-
dates alone, however, to see that
the candidates and the general
public are protected against the
evil and demoralizing work of the
political CRATER. They should
call mass meeting, as has been
heretofore proposed, express
their sentiments on this subject
in no uncertain accents and take
the necessary steps to see that all
violators of the law in this re-
spect are publicly expused and
prosecuted.
The primary election law is
very clear on this point, both as
to those who give and those who
receive money for influencing
elections. For the information
of all concerned section 3719 of
the new code of 1906, being part
of the general primary election
law, is copied below. 1t is very
clear and explicit aud is as fol-
lows:
3719. Penalty for Offering to
sell vote or influence in primary
elections. That it shall be unlaW-
full for any person to sell or offer
to sell his vote or influence, dl-
reetly or indirectly, or to receive
pay for his time or expense in
canvassing to contribute to the
success or defeat of any candidate
or measure voted upon in the pri-
mary election; and it shall be like
wise unlawful for any person to
offer money or anything of value.
to anyone for his vote or influence.
or for his services in canYassing
for or against any candidate or
measure voted upon in any pri-
mary election. Any one offend
ing against this section shall be
fined not less than fifty dollars
$3.50. 0O) nor more than FIVE hun
dred dollars $500. 001, or impris-
oned not more than six months,
or beth. Z
Section 3720 Of the primary
election law prohibits the use Of
intoxicating liquors by candidates.
and other persons to influence Vot-.
|ers at elections and is of substan-
italy the same import. Ifthe cam
ldidates and all good citizens of the
county who desire to see right
and the law prevail will Co operate
in seeing that these two sections
of the Code are enforced, the peo-
pie, as whole, Will be satisfied
with the result Of the election and
have no reason to blush with
lshame, as was the case at the close