Oxford eagle. (Oxford, Lafayette Co., Miss.) 1876-current, 1914-01-15
WEEKLY LETTER FROM SENATOR
RUSSELL.

AFeGrtt ttlat tny letter TO YOU
last week was belated. However!
the work Of legislation had Just
begun and there was little OF in
terest in this first letter.
The entire legislature is hard
at work. Better progress ia be-
ing made than ever before. HAIR
mony prevails and the much
looked for discord has not, and
we trust will not, come. Many
important matters will receive
attention this session. Amongl
these are: A more drastic liquor
law. The mousse has already
passed bill that makes it almost
impossible to get a drink of any
sort of way in this state--it pre-
vents common carriers IA rail
roads and express companies from
shipping it in. That means veryl
few will walk to Memphis orI
New Orleans to get a jug; and.
even then he could not bring it;
into the state. A good banking
bill will pass. This will insure
competent, systematic inspection
of banks, and the chances forI
bank failures will be very much
lessened. Such a law, last seq
sion, would have prevented the
failure at home in all probability.
The elective judiciary will be
thrashed out again. and we think
a bill making oil judges elective,
in conformity to the constitution
amendment, will be passed ut
once. A constitutional conven-
ton is practically assured. II it
is called it will be called for the
summer months. That means,
Of course, that many important
measures will DE provided for in
the constitution, some of these
being: the election Of all judges
by the psople; change in the
superintendent of school funds;
a new apportionment of the SEN
ators and representatives IN the
legislature, and the idea seems
to be tina; the House should be
cut down 10 about eighty mem
bers and the Senate to thirty 1--WE
members AS it ia now there are
too many members; the body is
unwieldy.. \ law fixing the
election of U. s. Senators at a
different time from the general
election will pe passed upon. In
this way congressman will be
able to run along with the U. S.
Senator's in some elections. And |
many other important matters
VIII come up.
There - considerable trouble !
yet before Us, beyond the regular
routine Of legislation, in the way
OF special Investigations. These
take tine. trouble and expense.
The regular Investigating COM
mittse, however, has done 4 great
work for this state, and many
needed reforms will be made be-
cause Of the work of this COM
ni,tee.
+ Many Of my friends wiz be
glad tn hear that was one OF the
icomfnittse lend the chairman
and Spokesman Ct sams), dele
gated 10 visit President Wood
row Wilson at Pass Christian.
He gave US an audience aud We
did all we could to persuade him
20 address the legislature, but
his duties II Washington pre-
/ vented Us from prevailing upon
him TO come. He expressed
himself as very much delighted
~ our cordial invitation and ex-
precision of good will. He was
-ery much touched and his ap-
lpreciation was told US in very
emphatic and feeling words. 1t
was 4 great treat 10 see him and
to meet his wife and daughters.
We not only had the pleasure Of
seeing him once bit twice. Ny
wife, who was an honorary mem
Der OF the party, came IN for the
biggest share of the Donors. /
wish every person in Mississippi
could have had had the same
!; honoFs bestowed upon them as
cane to Us. The greatness and
/, goodness of this man il impress
Cd on every one that meets him.
lie Is indeed the greatest Presi-
. dent since the days of Thomas
jefferson; he is so gentle, pclish-
ed, FRANK. and nakes everyone
perfectly 4. ease in bis presence
| shall try to write a letter each
/. week. Wishing you and all my
! friends coed health. prosperity
and happiness, | am,
Very respectfully,
LEE VI. RUSSELL.