The Birmingham age-herald., 1908-05-20
STATE WILL HOLD
 ITS COTTON CROP Mississippi Officials Decide Not
 To Sell Yet RAINS DAMAGE ALL CROPS Lieutenant Governor ManshIp's Acts in Rardonlng Several Convicted Men Are Approved by Many and
 Criticised by Some.
RAINS DAMAGE ALL CROPS

Jackson, Miss, May s,-tspeeial)-rhe trustees of the penitentiary meet at Clarksdale tomorrow for the purpose of selling 15OO bales of cotton that was pro- duced on the state farms last year, and which the board has been holding for better prices than could have been gotten last winter. Trustee Montgomery came over from his home at Edwards today and has gone to the rendezvous impressed with the idea that these rains are going to continue the balance of the year, and no more cotton Is going to be made, and that the best thing the state can ao is to hold tight to the cotton she has n the warehouses at Clarksdale and Green wood. The chances are that Colonel Le- roy Taylor, the trustee from the northern district, will stand with Colonel Mont gomery on that holding proposition, and that the sale will be postponed indefinite ly. Trustee Montgomery says the pros pect for a cotton crop Is growing smaller every day the rains continue; that the farmers are being ruined and the state, being one of the biggest farmers in the south. is going to wreck along with the DaianCe or the
 This is certainly true of the Jackson district, where 1t has been raining and storming for the past three or four weeks. Farmers hereabouts state that the grass Is taking what crops the rains and the cverfiows have spared on their bottom and best lands. and that the outlook is very unpromising.
 Pardon Power Criticised.
 Governor Manship has again taken his pardon pen in hand, this time in behalf of negro named Richard Watson, who was sent up from Alcorn county in 1906, to serve seven-year sentence for assault and battery with intent to kill and mur- der. The petition for the murderer was signed by the circuit judge before whom the negro was convicted, the county offi- cials, the attorney genera. and others who were in a position to know the facts If the case.
 While taking of pardons this morning and the pardon of Banker Startling in particular, Acting Governor Manship said that he received a monster petition this morning from Washington county in sbe- half of MT. Startling, but which was not needed, as Starling is back at his home ere this. He has also received a great many letters and messages congratulat- ing him on the pardon of Starling, one of them being from R. N. Miller of Hazle- hurst, one of the foremost criminal law yers in the state and who prosecuted Starling for all he was worth. Mir. Miller admits it was a case where executive clemency could be shown to most ex- cellent advantage.
 On the other hand there are those who heartily condemn the course of Acting Governor Manship. However Governor Manship says his conscience is clear-he believes he did right; he does not care what is said about hiJ official action, and would do the same thing if it was to be gone over.
 Wants Information.
 Mrs. M. E. Holt, s76 Pennsylvania ave- nue, Memphis, Tenn, writes the depart ment of archives and history for informa- ton as to the command to which her husband Robert James Holt, was con nected during the war between the states. She says that he was citizen of Cayuga, Hinds county, but that he joined a com pany of Hinds county men at Grenada. She remembers that much about his en- listment, but does not know the name of the officers of the company or regiment, nor the number of the same. Veterans who served with MT. Holt would confer a favor on the widow by giving her this information. A letter addressed to Dr. Dunbar Rowland at Jackson, will accom- plish the same object.
 T. U. Ssson a Candidate.
 It is reported here today that T. U. Sisson of Winona, candidate for governor last year, and one of the most popular men in the state, has announced for Congress against Shed Hill, the pres ent incumbent. Another candidate, O. k. Bledsoe of Grenada county, wealthy planter, is also announced, and some of tke prophets or promoters of political looms are trying to get State Treas urer George R. Edwards to get into the race. However, it is not believed here that MT. Edwards has any idea of run ming for Congress, having all he can at- tend to in the caring for the states strong box. However, MT. Edwards was asked today what about his running for Con- gress and dodged all around making any answer. He spent Sunday at his old home in McCool, and it may be that he was setting a peg and casting an anchor to the windward.