The Grenada sentinel. [volume] (Grenada, Miss.) 1868-1955, 1918-10-18
CONTINUED from page ~
THE POLITICAL FORTUNES OF
SOME OTHER INDIVIDUAL WHO
is ALREADY QUALIFIED.


is ALREADY QUALIFIED. i.
The agitated concern OF certain
political m~anipulators, who seem to
fear some young man under 80 will
fitch the office of governor from the
people if the change is made, is ludi-
arous to those who know their mo-
tives; and their antics tempt me to
A-isress for a brief discussion of the
question. These old line fellows
who have long sought to divide the
srolls and dictate the terms, would
not welcome a change, and without
regard to former alignments they
are standing together now and ire
displaying a most u~nbecoming lack
OF confidence in the people.
One should never be afraid to
open the field and give to every citi-
zen an equal chance, neither should
n be afraid to have the people rule
in the selection of their officials. A
candidate who is unwilling to open
the field and contest with all corners
should quit the race; and a citizen
who is afraid to vest the power of
unlimited selection in the people
should go to Germany where there
are no free men. Are they afraid
for the people to have this power
and the young man this chance be-
cause they fear the people or be-
cause they fear the young man?
/ As many as ten states have so
changed their organic law as to vest
this power in their people, and our
people are as intelligent as theirs.
A young man born and educated in
mississippi can go into one of these
states and theer his ability may be
recognized and opportunity be given
him to serve the people of his adept
ed state as governor or lieutenant
governor nearly ten years before he
can be SO honored by the people of
his native state. Massachusetts,,
Kansas, Ohio, Wisconsin, Florida, and
other progressive states have opened
he field, and they have suffered none
of the dire evils predicted for Missis-
| sippi by some.
Human experience is rich with
abundant proof that a mans ability
has lived, but simply HOW. Ma
poleon established the Liguriar Re-
public at %, and wrote a new con-
stitution for France before he was
80. William Pitt was cabinet minis
ter at %, and had served as Prime
Minister of the great British En-
pire for six years before he reached
i his 3Oth birthday. Robert Peel was
governor of Ireland at "a, and a
good one. Alexander Hamilton,
'ames Madison and other leaders of
the Continental Congress were under
81 years of age. Patrick Henry was
the idol of the common people and
re. Ognized to be the greatest lawyer
in Virginia at 81. Instances might
be enumerated indefinitely.
Now, my friends, in so far as |
know, no campaign will be waged for
this amendment which was initiated
by the people who believe it to be
only fair and just. There are those
who would have it believed that l
am a ''young man painting for pow
err" Those of you who know me
know that, although public service
appeals to me because of its Oppor-
tunities, | care little for the "boast
of heraldry and pomp of power" con-
Injected with public office; and my
freeord establishes this fact My life,
since l left school, has been largely
1 given to public service. In the pres
ent emergency | have answered every
call, and, giving more than half of
my time to war activities, have neg
lected my private affairs. l volun-
teered mot merely rendered my
services") for generally military
duty within sixty days after the war
came to America, and l am here now
through no efforts of my own, though
l have never boosted of my patriot
ism by advertising this fact.
Ny period of public service has
been most pleasant, for it has been
free of the abuse customarily heaped
upon public men of late years.
Whatever craving l may have had for
publicity has been fully satisfied. !
am by birth and preference, a Mis-
sissippian. not a factiOnalist, and !
have never been elected to any office
py the support of the m~anipulators
and leaders of any political faction
but rather always over their open OF
concealed opposition. am on speak
ing and fighting terms with them all
This much / say in justice to my
friends, and; those who know VII
bear witness to 1T.
The amendment is n question te
be decided by the people upon the
broad ground of principle and poll
CIV. The election of a governor /:
entirely an Independent problem:
am confident the voters will consider
the proposed change without bias O
preiudice: and l am also confident, II
these trying times, they are going tt
require that their governor, whats0
ever his name or age may be, shall
be neither a political profteer, no
one saturated with bitter factional
ism, nor one whose sole attainment
consists in his ability to ride tn
popularity of another, nor one wh'
has trafficked in public offices am
appointments for the furtherance o
political schemes or his own politica
fortunes, nor one who is totally with
out experience in public affairs.
With friendship for all and malice
toward none, l am,