The Hattiesburg news. (Hattiesburg, Miss.) 1908-1917, 1911-11-23
HON. STOKES v. ROBERTSON AN
APPLICANT FOR IMPORTANT
POSITION.
HIS PROSPECTS Are BRIGHT
He Would Make Most Capable and
Acceptable Official and His Official
Record Would Reflect Credit on the
City.

The latest aspirant to announce for
the clerkship of the lower house of
the legislature is Hon. Stokes V. Rob-
ertson, of hatuesDurg, who has for the
past four years creditably represented
Forrest county as a member of the
body he now wishes to serve as its
clerk
Mr.. Robertson needs no introduction
TO the members of the next legislature
elected from this section of the state
or to those Of his colleagues who have
been returned as members of the next
Legislature, many of whom have given
his candidacy their unqualified en-
dorsement and support, as have also a
number of the newly elected legisla-
tors. He stood high in the regard of
his colleagues in the last house, re-
gardless of faction, as a hard work
ing, conscientious legislator. These
know his worth, fitness and prepared
ness for the position he seeks, but for
the information of the MEMBERS elect
| who do not know him personally The
News is proud to say that there is not :
a man in the sto-N better qualified by
education, association and environ
ment to discharge the duties of the DO
sition of clerk of the house, or
one who will do it more con,
scientiously than Stokes Robert
son. His four years experience as a
member of the body has given him an
advantage over several Of the aspir-
ants, by reason Of the knowledge of
parliamentary procedure in general
and legislative procedure as pertains
to the lower house in particular. This
is as asset, or equipment, of great
valHe and should be vital considera-
tion with the members who will make
the selection.
Mr.. Robertson is aspiring to the po-
sition not as the candidate of any fac
tion. He may be considered. however.
In some sense as the candidate of
South Mississippi, rich and prosper
GUS section Of the state, which has not
been favored with fair proportion Of
the offices OF the state, either elective
or appointive, and South Mtssissippi
representatives will give him their
solid support.
There are four other sspirants for
the position; Pink Smith, of Green
Vile, present clerk OF the house; John
@. eastman. editor Of the vicksburg
Post; Lucius Blount OF Water Valley.
and Y. D. Lott of jackson. Tho best
Informed politicians are of the opin-
Ion that Mr.. Robertson will be in the
run-on with one Of the four, with ex-
eellent chances Of winnins out. He
has assurances Of support from q suf-
hcient number OF members Of the next
legislature to insure his being one Of
the two, to which the race will mar
row down in the ballotins, with enough
promised second choice votes to make
his selection highly probable. His
most formidable opponent may be con.
sidered Pink Smith, the incumbent.
but as Mr.. Smith has been closely
aligned with the snti-vardaman faction
OF the state. he cannot look in that d.
rection or to that faction. which is
lagely in the majority in the incoming
legislature, for any degree Of support.
Mr. Robertson, while an open varda-
man supporter. has not espoused the
cause Of the latter in any manner that
would ALLEVIATE the support or cause
the loss of the friendship of the other
, side fact that will doubtless draw
, to him some consideration at least
from the anti-vardaman members.
Mr.. Robertson is waging an effective
canvass for the position, writing the
; members of the next house asking for
; their support, and has a number of the
? strongest men in the state, both In
} and out of the legislature, working in
, his behalf. He proposes to aggressive
, ly wage the canvass until the legisla-
ture convenes in January ard-. v-'''