The Semi-weekly leader., 1919-07-26

The following statement has been
issued by Oscar Johnston, candidate
for Governor, in which he cites the
record as to his connection with the
Agricultural High School Bill, Bank
ing Law, and other measures. It will
be noted that he gives the House
Journal and page number so that
anyivoter may see for himself wheth-
er his statements are correct.
The following is the statement is
sued by Mr.. Johnston:
The Clarion-Ledger,
Jackson, Mississippi.
Gentlemen:
In your paper of July % you print
a statement purporting to have been
issued by the Collins Campaign Com
mittee, which is a display OF gross
ignorance regarding the Legislative
History of the state of Mississippi or
of wilful mendacity on the part of
1.-The writer, unique in the annals
Of Mississippi politics. 1t is difficult
for me to conceive that any candi-
date would permit statement to go
out regarding an opponent SO entire
ly devoid of truth as is this state
.ment. That the people may not be
mislead by this perverted statement,
! submit the following:
First. Regarding the Agricultural
High School Bill the Collins CoMmit-
tee calls attention to the nrst agri-
cultural high school law of which
Senator Franklin of Pontotoc was
the author, which was passed in
1908. This is true, and so far as
know, no human being has ever
questioned it. They should have ad-
ded however that IN 1909 THAT
ACT WAS DECLARED UNCoNSTI-
TUTIONAL BY THE SUPREME
COURT and is not the law in Mis-
Bissippi today. In $780, Senator
Franklin introduced Senate Bill No.
4, authorizing the establishment of
Agricultural High Schools in Missis-
sippi. This bill was passed by both
the Senate and the House, passing
the House at time when / was alb
sent, upon my return to the floor of
the House, / called attention to cer-
tain defects in the bill, 'whereubon
Hon. T. o. YeweH, who was interest
ed in the matter and who had ad-
vised and assisted me in the prepara-
tion of another bill authorizing the
establishment of Agricultural High
Schools, and made a motion in the
House to reconsider the Franklin
Bill. This was done and then the
House, by unanimous vote, as will
be seen by the record, Page 723,
House Journal of 1910, the official
proceedings of the House, SUBSTI-
TUTED MY BILL IN ITS ENTIRE
TY FOR THE FRANKLIN BILL.
My bill is now the law in Mississippi.
Since the record is so clear that
he who runs may read, there is no
excuse for a Committee, acting uA-
der the advice of the Attorney Gen
eral of the State, making SO gross a
misstatement as that contained in
the article and embodied in this
statement, which quote: $50 far as
the writer has been able to nnd
from an investigation Of the books,
several laws have been passed bear
ing upon Agricultural High Schools,
none of which seem to have been o.
riginated by Mr.. Johnston" II "the
writer" will get the House Journal
of 1910 and look on page,723 he will
md correct information, but / fear
"the writer" is not a diligent seeker
after the truth. Senator Franklin
was my warm personal and political
friend and under no circumstances
would make any claim which would
detract in the least from the credit
due him as painstaking legislator
Secondly. THE writer" next states
that l claim to have introduced chap
ter III Of the Laws of 1914, further
stating that have made this claim
in some advertising. This is will
fully untrue, and l will challenge
him to find any campaign document
ever issued by me claiming any sort
of connection with that chapter.
have stated and now repeat that I
was author of the bill in which the
age of consent was first raised from
ten years. That bill is House Bill