The Grenada sentinel. [volume] (Grenada, Miss.) 1868-1955, 1912-01-19

! unused lands more fertile than the
famed Valley of the Nile, capable of pro-
ducing crops of thrice the value of the
crops now produced by our farmers.
There are always obstructionists ready
to use money and time to defeat any and
all efforts to advance, but they are fort
~unately few in number and influence,
and I hope to submit for your considera-
ton later in your session a scheme which
will afford to our farmers a method by
which they can effect the complete recla-
nation of their lands and secure ade-
quate drainage where it is now so sorely
needed. There is a 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 lone 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 benefting
every man, woman and child. Good
roads encourage community interest and
bring about a unity of purpose and eff
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 ap.
p~reciate the Improvements in country
life directly attributable to the improv-
ed means Of transportation.
1t should be extended in every direc'
ton, and a system of highways estab-
lished that will be an enduring monu
ment to the progress. seness of this age,
and the active, dominant civic spirit OF
our citizenship. Drainage and road
building are eminently practicable ques'
tons and contribute more to the health
prosperity and happiness OF the people
than almost anything civil government
can do for the betterment of the great
masses. 1t is impracticable to 60 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 ar
outline of those subjects which appea'
to me and upon which the Legislature
should bestow the most serious consider
alton. Every reasonable effort to bring
about the drainage of IL farming
lands, and to improve the highways Of
travel should be continually exerted. Let
us make the doings of these things Oul
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
encd offenders.
This can be done at a small cost, ant
even if it costs ten fold more than i
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 a
twelve years, and so it is a female in
FAINT is pronounced by the wisdom ant
moral sense of Mississippi as capable o
giving consent to her own defilement. NJ
words are strong enough to characteriz'
the barbarianism of this supposed senti
ment, written into the statute laws o
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 bio
from our laws and by writing therein
eighteen in lieu of twelve, and thus an
nounce to the civilized world that tn,
ruin of the daughters of Mississippi vii
bring to the scaffold the human wolve
who are preying upon the innocence an
affections of children.
The Prohibition Law.
There has been some excitement owe
, the possibility of an effort to repeal tn
:. State wide prohibition law. Personally
, / do not think there is any cause 10
q alarm. True, there are a number o
people in the State who do not now Ell
: dorse, and who have never endorsed, thi
. legislation, but the sentiment agains
the sale of intoxicants is now, and ha
been for many years, overwhelming. Ii
q stead of repeating the law, I sugges
that it be strengthened by giving to tn
Chancery Court full power to enjoin tn
v sale of intoxicating liquors as a nuisanc
per Sc, upon petitions of the district a.
torney, or attorney general, and to pun
ish for contempt those persons %violatin
10 such injunctions. And in further al
of the efficient enforcement of the Law
j. the sellers of such liquors should be PR
# hibited from advertising their contri
d band goods in the State. A cognate ev
ID should also be curtailed, if not entirel
e. prohibited, by levying a high tax on a
w places where so-called soft drinks al
ID sold, which resemble OF may be take
for any kind of malt drink, or bee
ar whether they be intoxicating or no
After all the people, including those WI
n. oppose the present law, have made u
@. their minds to insist upon and aid
v. the enforcement of the law, we will
ne in a better position to judge of the valu
of the alleged reasons for its appea
Until we have given the law a fair tria
or there are so many reasons against Il
Nv license of the traffic that the law-abi
N ing, God-fearing majority will be slow I
surrender their convictions to a lawle
minority.
nd The adoption of the present law, on
oil having the sale of intoxicants, was n,
he brought about by fanaticism Or sent
ly mentalism, but the lawmakers of II
re State, after trying out many expedient
rs and finding their practical workings d