The new South-news., 1908-03-28
FOR
GREATER
MISSISSIPPI

iuriuc the rccen, session of the lex,s-
a,ure:
"When il was thought that lerisla-
ION injurious to the railroads would
.ome up for action At this session OK
he legislature. the railroads were
promptly notified and We have no
ioubt that the different companies IN
:erested responded promptly by send
ng competent men to protect their
interests. 40 far as they could he pro-
sec.ed. This was right. We need the
.ailroads. If the state had ten times
he trackage it now has it would be
i've hundred per cent richer. And so
Ear as we are concerned. We wish
here was no restriction whatever on
.api,al invested in new railroads foI
4 long term of years. But at the same
lime the railroads need the farms and
he farmers of the country. and when
legislation affecting the farmer rs IN
reduced. why are MOI the formers
notiiiedi A bill TO abolish the oiuce
Of the Commissioner of Agriculture,
me only Office in the state government
that directly concerns the farm has
been introduced, and We would ike
20 know how many farmers have been
consulted about it. Tens Of thousands
of farmers read weekly Commissioned
Blakeslee = sound advice on improved
farming. road building, etc, and his
acute Investigations into all the realms
OF agriculture. and If they were con-
suited it is safe TO say solid protest
against his removal or the abolish.
meat Of the Office would be heard. lie
has proven the right man in the right
place and is making the Office q real
and lasting benefit to the state
The Department of Agriculture
and Commerce was created at the be,
hest Of the Cotton Association anc
was for the direct benefit Of the agri
rultural aad live stock people OF Mis-
rissippi. 1t has since received the un
aualified endorsement of the unior
and the present Commissioner has ac
lively co-operatcd with both of thes'
organizations in the work they hav'
undertaken. The Department has ais
co-operated with the Mississippi Lv
Stock Association in the effort to Sc
cure legislation beneficial to the Inv
stock interests. No opportunity ha
been allowed to pass whereby 1t wa
possible 10 aid the interests for whic
the department was created. The su!
cess shown by report to the ie2i'
lative bodies was gratifying indee
TO the Commissioner, and the endorse
ment received at the hands OF IN
various organizations does away WIT
the possibility Of its abolishment.
is a fact that several attempts wei
made along this line, but in ever
instance the effort fell fat. The sil
cerity of those who made the enort
not brought in question here. III
the department is given little oppo
tunity of accomplishment goes wit
out question. The last leg'slatu
made the appropriations for its su
! port very small indeed and the pre-
: ent body has decreased them to sor
extent. It seems that the Comm
sioner is expected to take 1t o
largely in talking and the best ia
can be made Of the situation will
!. done.
Now as to agricultural legrslati'
something was said csucerning 1t II
week. The greatest obstacle has be
the standing Of the committees
agriculture and commerce. An en-
= Is being made to remedy this. re
s. luton having been offered to pl'
r. the committees next to those nan
n in the constitution, which would
N terially aid such legislation IN
b. future. There is a strong sensim
among tho legislators to aid the a.
cultural people and with thc help
the various organizations, the rel
n in the future should be gratifying
a. Superintendent Early OF IN
he busha held = meeting Of boys and
IT. irons Of the public SCHOOLS OF
county At Water Valley and ors
lied tho competitive corn growing
test. Fully two hundred boys were
in hand and arranged to participate
be the work this year. Splendid Y
lus Of preparation has been made
there can be little doubt OF the
cess Of the movement. Superln
dent Msbry OF Newton has more
q" one hundred boys enrolled, Sup<
us' tendent Waldrup, Of Jones, Sup
rg- tenaent Clayton, Of Lee, SuPerlu
dent Shaw Of Webster, Superir
dent Allen Of Tate, 0upsrinten
., Mcdowell, Pontstee, Saperinten
r.. Dew Of Alfalfa, Superintendent
Of Laudsrdale. Superintendent v
An exchange says: A 10
thA 4