Okolona messenger. (Okolona, Miss.) 1900-current, 1917-09-06

the whole country became alive with COM
meIcial and industrial progress never ex ,.
deposits grew out OF proportion, gran
aries were filled with the products Of the
soil and foreign countries were demand
ing the fruits Of our industry In ever
But we had no merchant marine, no
ships In which to transport our goods
and wares after they had been sold
Ocean freight rates became first excr-
bitant. and then prohibtive. The mer-
chant marine of the belligerents were
becoming impaired; the people Of for
eign countries We're crying for foodstuffa
and other products. but we could get them
only as far as the seaboard and there
they remained pyramiding and longest
ing every available wharf. The lack OF
ships forced the price of cotton to six
cents pound and lumber to less than
the cost of production.
In this trying situation, President WI.
son. with statesmanlke vision, saw that
II the prosperity Of our people was TO
be maintained that the means OF ocean
transportation must be had, ships must
either be constructed, leased or bought.
He submitted the question to Congress
100000 to procure ships. The measure
passed the House OF Representatives
overwhelmingly, but when 1t reached the
Senate small coterie of Senators OPP
posing Ii cOnSplred to encompass its de-
feat by filibuster. For days and weeks
those patriotic Senator's, who believed in
the wisdom Of the measure tried to bring
1t to vote, but this little handful OF
of the country and the almost unani-
nous sentiment Of Congress in favor Of
the bill and by their well-pianned fill
clustering tactics defeated the legislation.
MIssIsslppans HumilIated.
It was sad day for the farmers and
manufacturers Of Mississippi, who hal
their cotton and lumber ready for ship
ment. when that little bunch of Senators
denied them relief by killing that BILL
And those feelings of disappointment on
the part of Mississippians were changed
to humiliation when 1t became known
in this tragedy was the junior Senator
from Mississippi AT first 1t was hard for
them to believe that this pretended friend
of the people had thrown his influence
Many bottle Of champagne was broken
and paid for by the agents Of the shipping
trust the night the fil!buster ended.
! shall not soon forget that spectacle
OF those Democrats who stood with a few
standpat Republicans on THAI memorable
day and fought, whether consciously or
unconsciously, in behalf of the shipping
trust and against the interests of the
willy standpat Republicans coming over
on the Democratic side of the Senate and
affectionately placing their sympathetic
arms about the shoulders Of their Demo
of appreciation In their ears, as they
knowingly winked their eyes and returned
to their Republican seats.
Up until the time the ship purchase
bill was put to death by the Junior SEN
ator from Mississippi and his half dozen
associates, the junior Senator from Mis-
sissppi had not given open evidence IF
any personal hatred of Woodrow Wilson,
and notwithstanding their humiliation
over his action in assisting in the de-
feat of the ship purchase bill, he yet re-
tanned the esteem and confidence OF his
friends-friends who felt that he would
yet stand by his party and the Presi-
dent in an emergency. Few men ever
had so strong hold on the people Of
his state, and few men ever had so great
an opportunity to win his enemies by
rendering patriotic service to his state
and nation.
His friends had state offices in their
gift they had expended td their energy ana
him well and hoped that no act Of his
would cause them to feel that their con-
fidence had been misplaced. Therefore
and disappointment that the news was
read by Mississippians that this honored
son was one of the men who had sub
marined the old democratic ship Of state
and Joined hands with the friends of
predatory wealth
Men False to Party.
1t was not long before the war was en-
tTOdcnlHB upon our IlSnlS, dS wen DIS
the rights of other neutral countries. In
ternational law was being challenged, and
put to the test; new questions that had
never before risen, came up to tax the
craftsmanship of the President and his
NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS. of the most delicate
character and far-reaching import. Our
position as a neutral was being made
more difficult with each passing month,
and the President again peering into the
future, saw how unprepared and unpro-
tected we would be in case of war, to
meet the attacks of other nations, and
as the sentinel on the watch tower, with
sparks flying everywhere" he sounded
the warning to prepare. He came to
Congress and asked for an enlargement of
our army and increased appropriations
for the navy and our Joast Notifications
So strongly did he feel on this question
of such Importance to the country. that
he left his office in Washington and went
through the country, informing the peo-
pie Of the situation and, like Revere,
sounding the warning of approaching
danger.
But in Congress again opposition lifted
its head against the manifest needs Of
the nation. One of the most determined
attacks was organized and fostered in
the Senate of the United States, and no
man worked harder. more bitterly and
more persistently against the programme
Of preparedness than did the junior Sem
ator from Mississippi. Not satisfied with
opposing the programme with his voice
and vote in the Senate. he gave to the
press d statement lildL cudH6nS6u the
Presidents patriotism Among other
things he said: Whatever may be the
Presidents motives, the effect of the po-
sition taken by him yesterday is an I'M
fortunate surrender to predatory inter-
ests."
Then the question arose whether our
citizens might travel the high seas, carry
on their legitimate business and go forth
on their legitimate errands. international
law had always guaranteed that right;
Il had never been denied or questioned by
any country at any time In the history
Of the world The President gave adj
herence to that policy as did every pa
triotic statesman and the American peo-
ple-but the junior Senator from Missis-
sippi, who said, that everyone from Presi-
dent to page who stood for such doc
trine should be impeached.
Dlssenters Denounced.
Germany had no more right to stop
American citizens from travelling on seas,
going about their peaceful missions, than
have to stop you from travelling on the
public road in going from your country
place to trade In town. Both are high
ways and open to the public.
While Germany was killing American |
citizens on the high seas, and the Presi-
dent was making an earnest effort to set |
tie QUE, differences with England, so eager
was Me Junior Senator to hamper and
embarrass him that he repeatedly issued
statements criticizing the Presidents ef- |
forts. Among other things he said: |
President Wilson is a rare combination |
Of erudition, of long haired determination !
and of hesitant timidity. The victims Of |
the Lusltania tragedy are dead. A delay |
A1Dt~. g.