The Brandon news. (Brandon, Miss.) 1892-1961, 1908-01-16
MISSISSIPPI
LEGISLATURE
GETS DOWN TO WORK AFTER
ELECTING SPEAKER.
THE PROHIBIlIONISTS MEET
One Of the Largest Crowds Ever As
sembled in House of Representa-
tives Gather to Aid in Cause Of
Abolishing Liquor.

The Mississippi Legislature conven-
ed Tuesday of last week and imme-
diately got down to business.
The yoathfulness of the present
Legislature is strikingly illustrated by
the fact that of twenty-three men,
bers of the class that graduated from
the University Of Mississippi in 1908,
nine are now serving in the lower
house, and majority of these youth
full solons are under the age of thirty
/. years.
i The lower house also has within its
membership. two University gradu-
ates of 1907, while there is one men,
: Der who is still student at Mill
saps College. In fact, it looks like
the voters of Mississippi almost robb-
ed the cradle to make up a legisla-
tive body.
The first matter of Importance was
The election of Col. III. M. Street, of
Lauderdale, as speaker of the lower
house.
Col. Street was chosen on the
eighth ballot, the vote being Street
20, Quin co. The house was in dead
lock, when g. L. Jones of Union with
drew from the fight, and the greater
portion of his strength went to the
Lauderdale candidate.
Amid scenes of much enthusiasm
the new speaker was escorted to the
chair by committee composed of
Messrs. Jones of Union, Socket of
Wilkinson, ana Alcorn Of Coahoma.
He made a, brief address, thanking
the body for the honor conferred and
stating that, while in NO sense an or
ator, and having no set speech pre-
pared for the occasion, he felt that
he would be able to preside fairly
and impartially over the proceedings,
at least, he would make a conscien-
tious effort to this end.
Secretary of State j. W. Power
presided at the opening of the lower
house. The roll was called by the
former clerk of the body, Hon. l..
Pink Smith after which the oath was
administered to all members, in ac-
cordance with the form prescribed by
the constitution.
In the senate the body was called
to order by Lieutenant Governor J. P.
Carter Of Hattiesburg, who will pre-
side over that branch of the legisla-
&ure until his successor, Hon. Lu-
Their Nanship of Kinds, is installed
on the 10th of January. The senate
entered Immediately into the election
Of officers.
Miss Matte Plunkett was elected
state librarian for four year term.
The two houses met in joint caucus
for this purpose, and after considera
able parliamentary wranging it was
decided to have an open ballot. Miss
Paunkett received 113 votes on the
FIRST ballot, defeating three opponents,
Tam, Mrs. Wilson and Miss Bueha-
mana.
After the joint caucus adjourned
the house resumed it's session, and the
reading Of the governors message
was concluded.
A monster mass meeting of prohi-
h1tlonists of the state was held in pur-
sTrance Of the call issued some time
ago. Hon. E. F. Noel, Governor
elect of Mississippi, was elected per-
manent chairman and B. T. Hobbs
Of BEookhaven was elected perma-
nent secretary. ;,
When the meeting assembled in the
ball Of the House of Representatives
the crowd was so great as to pack the
honse completely some time before
the meeting. Every available foot of
standing room was taken and many
crowded around the doors, blocking
the entrance. Source of persons were
turned away.
The object Of the meeting was chief
~ to make demonstration for its
moral effect upon the legislature, and
to demand statutory prohibition, max
ing the sale Of liquor within the bor-
ders of the state illegal, thus repeal
! ing the local option law which has
> been in force sixteen years. But the
demand for local statutory prohibi-
ton. is simply for the purpose Of
wiping out the few remaining sa-
looms at once pending the submission
Of constitutional amendment, which
shall make it unconstitutional to pass
a hquor traffic law.
A resolution asking the legislature
to enact statutory prohibition, and
urging congress to abolish interstate
liquor traffic, was adopted amid great
enthusiasm.
The stagnation in business circles
caused 10y the financial furry and the
on,acoonon+ cl,, IL. IT,.