The Hattiesburg news. (Hattiesburg, Miss.) 1908-1917, 1912-02-12
Fight IN Jones
COUNTY Continues
ABSORBING TOPIC
LETTER FROM JAS. HEARN COR
REcTs STATEMENT THAT HAT
rIEssuRo STARTED MOVE.
this COUNTY NOT IN FIGHT
II People PetitIonIns For Annexatisn
Win Out They Will Bs Wsseems
And Should Make a Valuable Add
THIS COUNTY NOT IN FIGHT

The News Is In receipt OF COM
munication from Jas. A Hearn, of
Moselle, containing COPY Of a letter he
has written to the Laurel Argus in
regard to the activity of some Of the
citizens of Jones county In asking to
be allowed to join Forrest. The letter
to the Argus is to make correction Of
statements contained In a former let
ter to that paper. which would proba-
bly, be construed as a reflection on
Hattiesburg and the citizens Of this
county.
So far as the citizens of this county
are concerned in the fight in the sister
county of Jones it may be stated that
the desire of the people of Moselle,
Eastabuchie and Beat 5 of that coun-
ty, to become part of Forrest county
was not inspired from Hattiesburg.
This seems however to be the i'm
preston gained by some of the citi-
zens of Jones county, and Mr.. Hearn's
letter is to correct any statements
that may be made in that connection.
Hattiesburg, so far as can be learned,
knew nothing of the movement until
the papers of Jones county carried the
story of the insurgents" desires.
While every citizen of this county
can appreciate and commend the spir-
it of the citizens in that section of
Jones, who are anxious to belong to
Forrest county, they are in the atti-
tude of on-lookers, awaiting with in
terest the outcome of the fight This
county has been too busy watching
the other end of the county get away
to the "free state OF Stone" and did
not know a movement was on foot in
Jones to make up in territory and citi-
zens the prospective loss to the new
county. Since the movement has
gained such force and the fight wax
ing rather heated, this county will of
course take an interest in the matter
to the extent Of being ready to well
come the recruits and be powerful
glad to have them If the legislature
heeds their appeal.
Mr.. Hearn's letter to the Argus is
published below and sheds additional
light on the question vexing the minds
of the good people of his county:
MIR. Hearn's Letter.
''In your issue of the 9th instant, I
beg to call your attention to a typo
graphical error, which occurs in my
letter Of that day, regarding the pro-
posed annexation of part kof Jones
) county, by Forrest county, which
: would thank you to correct. You make
J me say that. 1--WE are certainly under
, obligations to DR.. Donald, in inform
! ing US, but ne can never be depended
5 upon to do his duty, and he represents
3 every man and community in his dis
: trict, equally with his best friend OF
9 neighbor of Hattiesburg." The word
never" should have been "ever."
"Since writing the letter in ques
tion, have been to Hattiesburg ant
had an opportunity to make some IN
vestigations. regarding the matter h
n question. the result of which leads m
to believe that there was no plan o
l. scheme laid by any of Hattiesburg'
citizens towards securing any OF ou
territory; nor do I believe now ths
. any one in Hattiesburg conceived Ii
= idea On the contrary. my investis'
. tions tend to convince me that the p
. tition is simply the honest and unai'
. ed effort of few people west OF LEI
= river in the southern part OF our cou
= ty to procure better facilities 4
= reaching their county seat, ana I,
= course their petition was signed |
= others In the affected strip. az ms
= ter Of friendly assistance. At 4
= time wrote my letter to your pap
= last week. had had no chance
= make any investigation. and thel
= fore must admit was somewhat 5uu
= ing at conclusions. which IN the II
= Of facts discovered by the isvestil
} = tion referred to above. LED ne
= make unjust accusasions against -
p~ CONTINUED on page fonr.)