The commonwealth. (Greenwood, Miss.) 1896-1923, 1915-07-30

will have to. go and that others viii
stay when Bi1bo gets in charge.
II all that Bilbo say about me wefe
true, how could that qualify him to
hold tho high office of Governor?
The following letter will show Bill
bo's attitude toward me more than a
year after I came to the College:
"Poplarville, Miss, July %, 1913.
Pres. g.. r., Hightower,
Agricultural College, Miss.
My Dear Mr.. Hightower:
have just learned that you have ar
ranged for my good friend, Lloyd G.
Printice, to complete his course for a
Masters degree, mi do some teach
ing at the College next session. And
/ wish to thank you sincerely for this
kindness shown Mr.. Printice. He is a
good friend Of mine and deserves
most anything that he wants; he Is
Atwood and q yard wide, and he can
be depended upon in most anything
that you may see fit to give him.
Trusting that things will move
along smoothly and successfully, beg
to remain, Your friend,
(Si9ned THEO. G.. BILBO."
He knew as much about me when
the above letter was written as he
huO"S uOWs I1C AAAA w." 49,
a huge question mark just here.
l was not, as Bilbo charges, made
president Of the Agricultural and Me-
cbanical College because of a political
deal with Governor Brewer. l never
mentioned the College to Governor
Brewer nor he to me, in any way what
soever, until several months after he
was elected Governor. My coming to
the College was never mentioned to
me by Governor Brewer or by any one
else whomsoever until several months
after he was elected Governor. l
had any intimation from Governor
Brewer. or from anyone else, that he
had considered me as president of the
College until several months after he
had been elected Governor, and any
one making a statement contrary to
this, tells a willful and malicious lie.
He ISLANDERS the farmer member of
the legislature, insults the of
the State n m~isrepresents me when
he charges that I induced them to mu-
tilate the land corporation bill and
defer the date of it's effectiveness six
months. The farmers of this State
know that l championed and worked
for and corporation legislation many
years before the law was passed n
before Bilbo was even heard of.
1 am not, as Bilbo has charged, a
scheming politician. l eve entered
into a political deal in my life, and no
honorable or truthful man will say that
l have. Every farmer in Mississippi
who was a member of h Farmers
Union, knows that l kept the Union
out Of politics during the o heated
political campaign ever waged in the
State. l cast my individual vote for
Vordonon h,,f did not Vnfo for Rilhn
n no n knows all this better than
Bilbo.
l think the farmers of this State
more capable of judging my efficiency
as president of the College than Bilbo,
so l quote mere a resolution passed by
the farmers who attended the regular
Farmers Roundup Institute in Sep
TENDER, 1914. There were represen-
tative farmers and business men from
every section of Mississippi present
as we'll as representatives of every
farmers organization in the State. See
what they say about it:
I'VE, the farmers assembled at this
convention, representing the various
agricultural associations in Mississippi,
desire to place on record our approval
and endorsement of the splendid work
Of President G. r.. Hightower in his
~ VI kAS A0AA "a AZ ~
& M. College and his efforts to carry
the work Of the College to the people
of the State. We also pledge him ohl
cordial support and cooperation in his
further efforts to extend the work OF
the College to the farm and the farm
home and in the development of rural
conditions that will make our people
more prosperous and contented."
So
note from your letter that Bilb1
makes all kinds of graft and corrup
tion charges against me in connection
with the failure of the Farmers Ware.
house Company. Let the judgment OF
the organized farmers themselves com
pare with Bilbo's statements in this
particular. See what they said in
ridian, October 81, % and %, 1913:
Part of Report of Committee or Reso
Iutions.
"Be it Resolved, That while we de
plore the failure of the National Ware
house Company, which was a great
factor in the markets holding up and
advancing the price of cotton and cot
ton seed and while this Farmers Ware
house Company was a business corpor
alton of the Farmers Union, yet 1t was
not the whole Farmers Union by any
e
I'VE are satisfied and believe the
company was organized on business
principles with a high and noble pur
!, pose and it's i~ncorporators were In
!, spired with the purest motives and
while the plan was perfectly feasibl:
and practical, yet conditions in Missis
, sippi were not favorable, and beside:
r our people were not developed along
!, the lines Of successful cooperative
marketing. All of which led to the fail
: ure of the company. But we hereby
express u steadfast confidence IL
: former President G. r. Hightower ant
, T. w. Carter and believe them to b.
: true and worthy men. We resent TIL
) vile and unjust attack made by certai,
, enemies Of the Farmers Union in thi,
E State upon President Hightower as a.
attack upon ourselves. We appreciate
. his great services in the past and be
lieve to him. more than to any on,
else 10 due h credit OF the building VI
= 4 sentiment in the State and the coun
? try at large for better market condi
tions.
whereas, agriculture is the founda