The Pascagoula chronicle. (Pascagoula, Miss.) 1905-1920, 1919-01-25
MANY CANDIDATES
FOR GOVERNOR
Collins, johnson and Russell Already
Announced and Others Are
Talked.

of candidates in the history of he com
monwealth Positive announcements
have come from Ross A Collins, at
| torney general; Oscar G.. Johnston
representative from Coahoma county
and Lee M. RUSSELL, lieutenant COVER
nor, that they are in the race fo
governor, while H. f. Blakeslee, direc
tor general Of the Mississippi Centen
nial Exposition at Gulfport; Marion w
Reilly, who ran against Governor Bilbt
in 1916, and W. H. Smith, presiden
of the State Agricultural and Mechan
ical College, have given out state
ments that they probably will become
candidates.
In addition to the six men named
former Governor A. H. Longino, Major
j. c. Sheffield and State Senator w
M. Wilmington are among the list o1
gubernatorial possibilities, and the
list of entries may be broadened
Four has heretofore been the largest
number of candidates for governor ir
previous state campaigns. With three
pronounced candidates in the field, and
with the political signs pointing to al
least three more men entering the
race, the records Of past years will be
smashed
Lieutenant Governor Russell has al
ready opened his headquarters at Jack
son, while Attorney General Collins
has his campaign machinery practical
ly ready for operation. Lieutenant
Johnston, it is said here, will open his
headquarters early in February. Mr.
Reilly has indicated that he will have
his headquarters at Meridian or Laurel
if he finally decides to throw his hat
into the ring The Blakeslee campaign
committee has issued literature indi-
eating that their headquarters will be
at Gulfport
War conditions and recent political
events have brought many changes in
Mississippi politics. Old factional lines
have been broken and the political
prophets are at sea. Much speculation
is being INDUCED in as to how the
soldiers will line up in the campaign,
but nobody has enough information
along that line to make any sort of a
prediction.
Lieutenant Oscar G. Johnston is the
only soldier that has positively an
nounced his candidacy for governor,
but friends of Major j. C. Sheffield
have let it be known that he is willing
to become cadidate. Lieutenant
Johnston served in the Tank Corps and
was recently honorably discharged.
Major Sheffield is still in the army,
awaiting release.
The positive and the prospective
candidates represent all of the old
political factions in the state. At
torney General Collins has been identi
fed with the Vardaman faction, but he
is not lined up with Governor Bilbo
although the two were at one time
close friends. Lieutenant Oscar G..
Johnston has been classed with the
anti-Vardaman faction and was the
anti-Bilbo floor leader in the House of
representatives Lieutenant Governor
Russell has been affiliated with the
Vardaman faction and it is understood
now has the personal support of Gov
nrnor Bibo.
II. E. Blakeslee was appointed com |
missioner of agriculture by Vardaman |
and has been a member of that faction. |
Marion w. Reilly is classed as anti |
Vardaman, while W. H. Smith is on the |
Neutral list. Former Governor Long
no, Major Sheffield and Senator Whit
ington are on the anti-Vardaman side
If the political fence.
While there is an apparent effort in
certain quarters to revive old factional
ines, it is believed by many men who
ire well posted on state politice that
his move will not be entirely success
III, due to the changed conditions in
he state. According to the federal
ensus report on shifting population,
has lost thousands of vot-
RS during recent years, by families
moving from this to other states. On
he other hand, thousands of men
moved from other states to Mississippi.
he soldier vote must be considered
has between 10000 and 35,-
90 white men in the army and navy
rhen the armistice was signed If the
elatives and friends of the soldiers
nd sailors pay the poll taxes of the
len in khaki and blue before February
they will be able to vote in the Aug
st primary. When this large army
men returns home they will un-
become a factor in the
tate. both in business and politics.
There is a widespread demand in the
tate to get away from the mudsling- I
lg tactics used in past campaigns
he state is confronted by grave prob
ms Abnormal conditions exist and A.,
lie thinking people are calling for {
measures and policies. t
any of the best citizens in the state /
'e openly declaring that they will not S