The Port Gibson reveille. [volume] (Port Gibson, Miss.) 1890-current, 1919-06-19
JOHNSTON MAKES
GOOD IMPRESSION
SPOKE TO LARGE CROWD MONDAY
Made Many Friends by Coming to the
County. Speech Free From Mud
Singing. Other State Candidates
Here. N

y
Several State Candidates were here
Monday to meet the voters. 1t was
the opening day Of court, and, Of
course, there were more than the
usual number of voters from the
country precincts. Oscar G. John
ston, candidate for governor;N. A..
Mott, candidate for lieutenant gov
ernor; w. j. Buck and 3. A. Lincoln.
candidates for clerk Of the supreme
court; B. r. Guess and DR.. L. S. Rog-
ers, candidates for treasurer, were
among those seeking state Offices who
introduced themselves to the voters.
But the drawing card was Oscar
g. Johnston. He had more than an
introduction to the large crowd pres
ent. For nearly an hour and d half
he spoke to the interested listeners.
Mr., Johnston speaks in a tone pitch
ed but little higher than he uses in
ordinary conversation, but he main
tains the pitch with perfect ease, and
was heard all over the court room.
After telling of his early life and how
he acquired his education, he told his
audience he had been fairly success
full during his eighteen years Of the
practice Of law, stating that he be-
lieved that the average voter would
prefer a successful business man to
handle the affairs of the state than
to place them in the hands Of some
who could not run his own business.
The speaker stated that he had
been in the legislature for twelve
years, and had attended several Of
the presidential nominating conven-
tions He said he had to remind
Ross Collins, one of his opponents,
that he often forgot to tell the people,
when praising himself for having won
several back-tax suits, that Collins
had gone to Clarksdale to get Oscar
Johnston to draw up the briefs and
all of the other important legal work
connected with the matter Should
Collins be elected he feared he might
have to go to Clarksdale to get some
one to help run the governors Office.
He said he is opposed to the State
Pardoning Board because it has no
power to enforce any Of its decisions,
and is useless expense TO the state.
He also opposes the State Tax
Commission on the same ground. The
speaker said that in cccision by the
supreme court, State Tax Commission
vs.. the Board Of Supervisor, Of WASH
iAgtcn County, the comm aaion is
powerless to do anything IN the ay
od enforcing its orders; tnat the
counties that refuse to obey Its or
ders are let alone, and these ch
do are paying more than tlit4l pro-
portionate part Of taXes lie solcd
that the commission costs the sate
,,,s..,y. AIo., coz mn 44saI oar. rt.sf a
He said chat Longino did not retire
100000 til of bonds nor bu ID the
capitol without adding to the DEBT Of
the state; that when McLauriu went
out Of Office there as almost $780,,
600 in tic treasury which he recon-
mended be used for the retirement
Of these bonds, and the bonds we're
retired soon after Longino took his
seat; that the Federal government
gave to the state certain pine lands,
the proceeds from which to be used
for the three state schools; that these
lands were sold for about 100000,
the money borrowed from the school
fund and used to complete the capi
tol, and these bonds are still owed
by the state. He said that if he is
elected governor he viii recommend
the issue of a per cent bonds with
which to retire these per cent bonds
which are borrowed from the school
fund; that just before Longino went
out Of office he had to borrow $685.
coo with which to run the state busi-
ness on until taxes came in. He de-
clared that McLaurin was the only
governor since 1861 who left any
money in the treasury. He also said
that Longino had nothing to do with
the establishment Of the Beauvoir
soldiers home; that Mrs. Davis came
from New York and went before the
Legislature then in session and show
ed that body an offer she had for the
purchase Of Beauvoir for $25,O0O;
that if the state would give her S10,-
600 She would sell it to the state for
a soldiers home; the legislature turn
ed the proposition down, only two
members voting for the purchase;
that the Sons Of Confederate yeter-
ans bought the home; that the Daugh-
ters Of Confederacy furnished It and
paid the travelling expenses Of the
inmates to the home, and that the
Veterans and Daughters Of Confed-
eracy supported the institution for
three years; that the first time the
state did anything for the home was
AILCE NAIudlHdIls tAC4A EDF FEAAttA1 tA'AeT
ed Beauyoir on a free pass and re-
commended to the legislature that the
state defray the expenses Of the home.
Mr.. Johnston stated that every
governor since MeLaurin's adminis-
tration had passed the states debts
down to his successor, though at the
end Of each term there is always
money in the treasury until the ex-
penses are paid; that when Bifbo
surrenders the Office to his successor,
as much as he may hate to do SO,
will have to turn over about 81 ,0OO,-
900 in the treasury.
Then the speaker took his own leg
islative record. He said he was the
author Of the county agricultural high
school bill; author Of the bill for
bidding corporations to own farming
lands; author Of the banking law,
and author Of the bill which cleansed
the state insane asylum.
He declared himself in favor Of
higher salaries Of school teachers;
Of a better system Of good roads;
better health laws; better treatment
of Confederate soldiers, and budget
system for running the state.
At the end Of Mr.. Johnston's
speech he was heartily applauded,