The Jones County news., 1914-05-07

one could possibly be, for they
were anxious to obey the law
and respect the wishes of such
large and respectable number o
their constituents. They woulC
/ throw no obstacle in the way o
a speedy he airing or run thos,
who brought the case to any
unnecessary expense,
He stated that it was a grave
ques.ionas to the constitutional :
ity Of the dipping law, and this
could only and finally be settled
by the court Of last resort. He
said that the Legislature passed
two laws, one repeating the other
and those who opposed cattle
dipping should not eensure the
Board of Supervisors, but lay
the blame on the General AS
semb!y of their State. The
Board has only to carry out ouch
laws as were passed until re-
pealed or abrogated by the
courts.
One farmer present said in his
opinion the Legislature was
"rotten." Judge Deavours re-
piled that they must not blame e
the Board for what tho law
making powers OF our State did,
for these officers were sworn to
carry out the laws as they were
enacted and had no right tc
place their own Interpretation
on any act. He simply gave
the Board his legal opinion, and
by which he would stand; th at
had every voter in Jones county
save one petitioned against cat
tie dipping he would say to the
Board they had no right to order
an election to decide the matter.
Judge Deavours' talk made q
strong impression on those pre- :
sent, and he was attentively y
listened to. 1t is conceded tha
the Judge is one of the ablest
lawyers in our State or th'
South, and when he>so positive
ly stated that the Board coul
not order an election on dipping
without violating their oaths,
those present, or at least every
man who respected the laws ol
his land, conceded that they
could not censure the members
OF that body.
Judge Deavours told the peo-
pie further that even did the
Board of Supervisors order an
election held its result would be
| of no account whatever, as ii
would be illegal and the courts
would so hold; that they had no
authority to order an election,
and he had 30 advised the
Board.
Before going before the Board
Judge Deavours had a confer
ence with a delegation Of farmers
opposed to the dipping law. Mr.,
Garner, one Of their legal ad-
visers, made certain statements.
Judge Deavours asked him
where he found his laws that
you must obey and respect the
laws, and this proposition could
not be evaded.
Judge Deayours then told his
hearers that he would advise
them how to proceed to aettle
the question and would give his
advice without charge. He then
mapped out the proceedings az
adopted. He did not come
here to Ellisville to oppose their
wishes, but to advise the Board
as to what the law demands oil
them. The Judge has the con-
/ fidence of our farmers, and he
did splendid service and salts
factorily settled matter thai
threatened to divide our people
! and entail much hard feeling
and antagonism.) The readiness
with which our farmers accepted
Nthe advise Of Judge Deavours
lshowed that they are law -abid-
ing as we'll as good citizens, and
they can rest assured that their
wishes will be respected as far
rs the law permits.
II any blame is to be placed
put it on the Legislature for
passing law one day and then
repeating it. We must all re.
spect and obey the laws of the
land, and not censure any set
of public officers because they
would not override law be-
cause of its unpopularity.