Okolona messenger. (Okolona, Miss.) 1900-current, 1919-04-24

sells connection Herewith. lie denied
, the charge that he had ever been a
corporation lawyer os CHARGED BY ono
Of his opponents, and stated that in all
| his practice h. had never accepted
, regular retained Of employment for
, any corporation,
He further stated that when Mr..
Collins, the present Attorney-CeneraI,
went to bring his suit against the Y.
& NJ. V. and |. c. roa62 for an unlawful
merger that Collins had retained him
TO file this suit for him.
Rcsents SIur at Soldier Boys.
He went after Russell and the Issue
without reserve for referring to the
boys who had volunteered and been
drafted in the late war, but who had
not seen overseas duty, as near sol.
diers.' He said that 1t was true that
he had been a near soldier, just az
near as he knew how to be- That he
had gone in as a private and had not
asked any favorg from anybody. That
he claimed no credit for it, but that
he did object to this unlIind and I'M
just reference Of Mr. Russell to the
Logs who had gone into training and
who stood ready to sail on orders from
the government being termed near
soldiers.
Russell and the Pardonina Board.
Johnston everlastingly and vigorous
| y assailed Russell for his stand for
| the retention of the pardon board.
What in the world does Lee Russell
want with a pardon board" he said.
why, he has been acting as Governor
during the absence Of Governor Bilbo
FOR at least five or six months during
the past three years A man was con-
victed in Tunica County, with a fair
trial by jury Of twelve men, he ap-
0ealcd to tho Supreme Court and the
Supreme Court affirmed the judgment
Of the Lower Court He was given a
hearing by the pardon board and the
pardon board after full and fair in
yestigation adversely decided on the
pardon petition and recommended that
the pardon not issue. The Lieutenant
Governor Mr.. Russell, here who is
strongly in favor Of the pardon board
paid absolutely no attention to their
recommendation but granted the par.
don while acting as Governor. confess
my surprise at his need of a pardon
board to make recommendations If he
should be elected, which is an impossi-
bility. So far as l am concerned, il
elected propose to exercise the duties
of the Governors office. The constitu-
ton puts it on the Governor to grant
or refuse pardons, it is his duty under
the constitution and until the constitu-
ton is amended and the absolute pow
or vested in the board of pardons,
propose to follow the dictates of my
conscience in the exercise OF this dis
erection if am elected. II a man is
sentenced to death for a crime / don't
want to pass an application for par
don or communication of death SEN
tence on what somebody else has to
say about it, but l want to know my
self after my own Investigation.
don't propose to shirk any responsible
ty vested in tho Governor by the Con-
of the State or to shove it off
IN somebody else in any such fashion.
He denied that he had been a secret
,aucusite as termed by Lieutenant
Governor Russell, stating that he had
'oted against the secret caucus and
hat Russell knew it. That he had
Ilways been in the open in everything
hat he had done, but that he lodged
10 issue at any time, That Mr.. Russell
vas mistaken in his statement that he
lad ever been in favor of doing any
hing under cover, and that he had sup
orted resolution to dissolve the Sc
ret caucus of 1910.
Mr. Johnston stated that he had
oted against the resolution which
If. Russell called a resolution ex-
nerating Senator Vardaman because
had contained a clause in it which
ensured Governor Noel and the Bap-
st Church, reading the clause, and
Eating that a majority of the legisla-
Ire had either voted against it or
OF voted at ALL
MIR. Johnston's address was much
ore frequently and vociferously APP
auded than was the address of Mr..
ussell. Absolute order prevailed,
)weVer, and at no time was there any
ing more than good natured cheering
Id applause. Each candidate had his
lends in the audience, and for an
ldience of its size it was on extra
,od behavior. Russells manner was
at of intense political antagonism,
lille Johnston parried his thrusts in
rong, vigorous, clearcut, dignified
amer At the conclusion of Mr..
hnston's remarks, the Lieutenant
,vernor declined to reply to him, and
hnston retired amidst the cheers of
e larger portion Of the assembled
ovid.
Today at Carthage marks the clear
t defining of the Issues between the
o generally conceded leading con-
;tants in the race for Governor. Rus
u has laid down the gauntlet and
hnstcn apparently has accepted it
J, ,v;ovy, rs FC,,c;,cy I