The Semi-weekly leader., 1907-06-22
"A TERGIYISATOR. A PREVARICATOR
AND AM ALLIGATOR.

AND AN ALLIGATOR"
Though be declared in his first
published interview attacking the
Viclxsburg Herald, that he did not
expect to take public notice of any
thing further that that paper might
say about him, Senator McLaurin
last Sunday gave out three-col-
umn reply to the Herald's scath-
ing answer to his first onslaught.
There is a marked change Of
tone and spirit in the Senator's
last deliverance. Since bis first
bout with the Herald. he has evil
IDENTIFY become believer in the
injunction of the great Nazarine,
when men revile you, re-
vile not again." and Solomon's
proverb that "a soft answer turn
eth away wrath. " Indeed, the meek
spirit of the Senator and the mild
words chosen are in marked con-
trast, under real fire, to what they
were when he opened the contro-
versy.
The Herald of last Tuesday,
18th inst, published the Senator's
answer and replied In the same
issue in an editorial of over two
columns in length. The Leader
regrets that its space is so limit
ed it cannot reproduce in full all
that Senator McLaurin and the
Herald have both said, but as
this is wholly impracticable, the
following, including quotation
from Senator McLaurin, is given
from the Herald's last editorial,
on single point, as sample of
how the controversy between the
two distinguished disputants is
being maintained. The Herald
says:
Throughout the senator's at
tempts to reply to the Herald is a
juggle with the facts. But all is
surpassed where he seeks to wig
gle out of the implement of his
brazen claim of credit for the de-
cision in the Y. & M. V. back tax
cases. Replying to the Herald he
says:
When l said | used the lawful
authority of the governors office
to see that the State had a fair
and impartial decision of the ques-
talon of the liability of the Yazoo
& Mississippi Valley railroad for
taxes, The Herald charged me
with "obtusity," and with SLAM
dering the supreme court. The
railroad company at that time
did not think that the action
wherein | exercised the lawful"
authority as "obtuse," neither
did the Herald. i
l said LAWFUL authority. II
had this lawful" authority, the
of a supreme Judge
who would and did pass upon that
case. One of the judges then on
the bench, Judge Woods, held
that the railroad company was ex-
empt from taxation; the other
Judge, Judge Whitfield, held that
they were not exempt from taxa
tion-there being vacancy on the
bench. | was morally satisfied
with these facts. A friend of |
mine-a schoolmate-a good law
yer, of reputable standing, and a |
gentleman, was an applicant for
the appointment as a Judge on the
bench, and his appoint
ment was urged by the railroad
attorneys and those interested for
the exemption of the railroad from
taxation. He had been an attor-
ney for the Illinois Central Rail
road Company since shortly after
he was licensed to practice law.
This did not reflect discredit upon
him, but 1t made his environments
such that he was likely to see
things as the railroad attorneys
saw them. I was informed-as
thought, reliably-that he had
made up his mind on the railroad
back taxes, that the railroad was
exempt from taxation, and, there
fore, if | had appointed him, hold
ing that opinion, his decision,
with Judge Woods, would have
exempted the railroad from taxa
ion, not only in that suit, but for
many years to come, if not for
al time. did not appoint him,
Dut appointed Judge Sam Terrell,
who, was satisfied, had not made
Up his mind in the case, and who
was equally as good a lawyer, and
1e sided with Judge Whitfield, and
1y divided court, Judge
Noods-for exempting the rail
,oad from taxation, and two
Judges Whitfield and Terrell
or holding them to the payment
# their taxes, a decision was
'endered in favor Of the state and
he counties through which the
abroad ran for state and county
axes. Neither the railroad nor
he Herald was so "obtusav as
lot to see that the whole question
If whether the railroad should bel
leld liable for taxes or not was de-
aondopt uaor NJ II ttlorufMIi5 oy