The Birmingham age-herald., 1908-12-26
MERCHANTS WILL
 AID THE FARMERS Contracts Will Be Made As
 Usual In Mississippi CROPS MUST BE VARIED
Farmers WlII Be Urged to Plant Some thing Else Besides cotton-Gov- ernor Noel Will Not Give
 Christmas Pardous.

Jackson Miss. December 25-(Speeial.) A special from Utica to the Clarion Ledger is to the effect that the merchants of that place, one of the strongest in a business way in the state have deter mined to go right ahead doing furnish ing business as heretofore, and are al- ready making contracts with farmers and tenants for another year. This is con- trary to announcements made by mer- chants In some other towns where the boil weevil has made his appearance, but the merchants of Utica are among the most substantial and successful in the state, and are supposed to know just what they are doing
 It is being stipulated however. that there must be more in the way of diversi- fication of crops than heretofore. It will not be all cotton and to the exclusion of all other crops The tenant who is fur nished will be required to plant a certain acreage in corn and other foodstuffs, so that he may be able to llve if not to pay up at the end of the year.
 Tho larger planters and farmers of that fiourishing district declare their intention to raise corn, meat and mules hereafter, thus following the advice given by the ex- perts on the boil weevil special in it's rounds last week.
 Governor Noel states that he will not hand out any pardons this Christmas, and that no convict now in the Mississippi penitentiary will get any such present. The governor states that he will not take up any applications for pardons till after tho first of the new year. He has a great batch of petitions on file, and as soon as he can get at them is going to go over them and see what virtue there may be in them.
 The nearly 1900 convicts in the Misss- sippi penitentiary, less than 100 of whom are whites will enjoy just as good a Christmas dinner as the average citizen of the state, perhaps better. The man. agement of the penitentiary has always made 1t rule to put the big pot in the little one" on Christmas, and this year will he no exception to the rule.
 The management has provided great quantities of fruits and nuts and the tables will be loaded with the best of food, nicely cooked. These state farms produce a world of things that are good to eat-corn, pumpkins, potatoes, peas, peanuts, cane, molasses, turnips and an abundance of the sweetest of pork. all of which will adorn the convicts' tables Christmas. In fact, 1t is there every day in the greatest abundance, though not in such variety.
 Never before perhaps, in the history of the state were taxes so slow coming in, and the sheriffs have complained to Att torney General Stirling that 1t Is largely due to his recent opinion in which he held that sheriffs could not collect damages unless by distress and sale, and that not till after the middle of January The at torney general does not see just how any such conclusion could have been reached from reading his decision in the matter, as he never held that sheriffs could not collect by forceful methods before Janu- ary 15.
 James H. Wells of Greensboro. N C., and Miss Rose Fulghum of this city were married this afternoon at 1 o'clock. The marriage was quiet home affair. but ele gant in every detail. The bride is the only daughter of Dr. and Mrs. F. L. Full ghum, and one of the most popular young ladies in the city The happy couple left on the first train east for the home of the groom.
 Eugene Palmer, one of Jackson's most prominent young business men, law and real estate, was married yesterday to Miss Annie Work, daughter of the late George Work. She has been teaching school in Texas the past few years, and Is said to be a very accomplished young lady. The happy couple have the best wishes of a large circle of friends.