Greene County herald. (Leakesville, Miss.) 1898-current, 1912-01-19

There are always obstructionists ready
to use money and time to defeat any and
all efforts to advance, but they are fort
unafely few in number and influence,
and hope TO submit for your considera-
ton later in your session q scheme which
will afford to our farmers q method by
which they can effect the complete recla-
nation of their lands and secure ade-
quate dreinage where it is now so sorely
needed There is way to satisfy all
legal and practicable objections that may
arise in the prosecution of such an UNI
dertaking, and, no doubt, every member
of the Legislature will lend his best
thought and effort to the successful ac-
complishment of the important work.
Improved Public Highways.
Primitive and backward indeed is the
community untouched by the march of
progress along the mind of better high
way. Much has been done already in
many counties of the State, and nothing
has been of greater and more immediate
value to every interest than the con-
struction of better roads. This is one
public work reaching and benefiting
every man, woman and child. Good
roads encourage community interest and
bring about q unity of purpose and ef-
fort in all the business, social and educa-
tional activities in every rural neighbor-
hood
We have just entered upon this work,
and the people have been quick to APP
preciate the improvements in country
life directly attributable to the improv-
ed means of transportation.
1t shouiu be extended in every direc-
~ nd aforrR of irrhv AT h
lished that will be an enduring monu-
ment to the progressiveness of this age,
and the active, dominant civic spirit of
our citizenship. Drainage and road
building are eminently practicable ques-
tions and contribute more to the health,
prosperity and happiness of the people
can do for the betterment of the great
masses. 1t is impracticable to go into
details of legislation and stay within the
limits of an inaugural address and, there
fore, no effort will be made at this
time, to impose upon you more than an
outline of those subjects which appeal
to me and upon which the Legislature
should bestow the most serious consider
alton. Every reasonable effort to bring
about the drainage of our farming
lands, and to improve the highways OF
travel should be continually exerted. Let
us make the doings of these things our
business.
The Juvenile Offender and the Child La
Dor Laws.
In the name of all that is right and
proper, and with all the earnestness of
my soul, l urge you to provide some
means to separate the unfortunate chill
dren of crime from the older and hard
ened offenders.
This can be done at small cost, and
even if it costs ten fold more than it
will cost, every sentiment of righteous
ness and wisdom demands this long-de-
layed reform and simple act of justice.
Raise the Age of Consent
The age of consent is now fixed at
twelve years, and so it is female IN
FAINT is pronounced by the wisdom and
moral sense of Mississippi as capable of
giving consent to her own deflement. 70
words are strong enough to characterize
the barbarianism of this supposed senti-
ment, written into the statute laws of
this State.
Every mother in the State should de-
mand that we protect her babe from
lecherous brutes, so far as law can pro-
tect them, by striking this foul blot
from our laws and by writing therein
eighteen in lieu of twelve, and thus an
nounce to the civilized world that the
ruin of the daughters of Mississippi will
bring to the scaffold the human wolves
who are preying upon the innocence and
affections of children.
The Prohibition Law.
Thoro hos haau corua oNcif 0var
the possibility of an effort to repeal the
State wide prohibition law. Personally,
| do not think there is any cause for
alarm. True, there are a number of
people in the State who do not now en-
dorse, and who have never endorsed, this
legislation, but the sentiment against
the sale of intoxicants is now, and has
been for many years, overwhelming. In
stead of repeating the law, / suggest
that it be strengthened by giving to the
Chancery Court full power to enjoin the
sale of Intoxicating liquors as a nuisance
per Sc, upon petitions of the district at
torney, or attorney general, and to pun
ish for contempt those persons violating
such iniunctions And in further aid
of the efficient enforcement of the law,
the sellers of such liquors should be pro-
0ID1l6Q- 1IOu sAuNci Using t1CiA Will q
band goods in the State. A cognate evil
should also be curtailed, if not entirely
prohibited, by levying high tax on all
places where so-called soft drinks are
sold, which resemble or may be taken
for any kind of malt drink, or beer,
whether they be intoxicating or not.
After ali the people, including those who
oppose the present law, have made up
their minus to insist upon and aid in
the enforcement of the law, we win be
in better position to judge of the value
of the alleged reasons for its appeal
Until we have given the law fair trial,
there are so many reasons against the
license of the traffic that the law-abid-
ing, God-fearing majority will be slow to
surrender their convictions to lawless
minority.
The adoption of the present law, out
having the sale of intoxicants, was not
brought about by fanaticism or senti-
mentaIism, but the lawmakers of the