Macon beacon. [volume] (Macon, Miss.) 1859-1995, 1910-01-07

three-fourths of those who voted on
that subject favored e~lecting judges. Our
present constitutional system il confess
edly based upon a distrust of the ability
of the people to select this class of their
owo officers. and requires the governor
to determine what the people could and
should be constitutionally to determine
for themselves the naming of those who
passed upon their lives and property.
Special Defects in Criminal Laws.
County attorneys should be created so
that the state could be represented by
counsel in every court in which it has a
case. Prosecution, in some of the JUS
tees and municipal courts, when the
state is unrepresented, are worse than a
farce. Professional criminals seek these
courts, at times, in order to obtain,
through acquittais or nominal fines, pro-
lection from the circuit or other courts.
The usual fine of one dollar, or other in
significant sum, encourages and licenses
crime. County attorneys could render
great and m~uch-needed public service,
not only prosecuting misdemeanors in
justices courts, but also felonies inyesti-
gated for committal purposes. In the cir
cult court, with the benefit of special
knowledge of the facts and local sur
roundings. he could be of valuable assist
ance to the district attorney, giving the
grand jury attention when both it and
circuit court needed, at the same time
service of the states counsel. He could
also represent the state and county in
civil proceedings, receiving compensation
on a percentage of the money collected,
his other fees collectible from convicted
criminals.
Liquor, Cocaine, Morphine and Deadly
Weapons.
Our statewide prohibition law is as
well, or better, enforced than our Sun
day, gambling, concealed weapons, BIAS
phemy, and some other statutes. It's ef-
feet is beneficial, and it meets the APP
prevail of a vast majority of our citizen
ship. Probably, by oversight, the sec
tons authorizing attachment and collec-
ton of penalties for liquor selling, in
civil proceedings, was repealed by it's
number. That provision should be re-
enacted and strengthened, and collections
authorized cOncurrently by the Chancery
court in proceedings to enjoin blind tig-
ers as n~uisances. In some localities, for
a time, confirmed invalids openly defied
the state and city governments by fla
grant and continuous liquor selling, re-
lying upon physical intirmities as pro-
lection against the law. Appeals have
been made to me, and refused, for par
dons upon the ground that the commits
sion of this crime was the only way the
applicants could make a living. The see
Ond conviction, or proof of being an ha-
bitual liquor seller, ought to be a felony,
punishable, at the discretion of the
court, by fine or by penitentiary impris-
onment. The state has hospitals. well
equipped, for taking care of its helpless
prisoners. Those making a profession of
crime ought to be sent and kept there.
Additional restrictions should be thrown
around sales of drugs containing cocaine
and morphine, with power in the court to
revoke the license to do business by
those making such illegal sales. No
man should be licensed, or given any au-
thority from the state, to conduct a bust
ness or calling which is used as an in
strumentality for crime. All s~Olicita-
ton, aid or encourag cement to illegal
sales of liquor, morphine or cocaine
should be prevented by being penalized
as crimes. Sales and pawns of pistols,
dirks or other deadly weapons used only
for killing or manning people, should be
prohibited or restricted.
Dof-