The sea coast echo. [volume] (Bay Saint Louis, Miss.) 1892-current, 1919-04-26

SdFtHSge, apr. If. - H1SCOr1c Ola
Carthage, the county seat of Leake
County, was the scene of one of the
warmest political debates ever staged
In Mississippi today, when Lee N.
Russell, present Lieutenant Governor
of Mississippi, and Oscar G. Johnston,
of Coahoma county, rival candidates
for gubernatorial honors at the hands
Of the people of Mississippi, clashed
in joint debate for the first time in
the present campaign. While the de-
bate was not a prearranged affair and
came about largely by reason Of the
fact that both these leading candi-
dates for Governor OF Mississippi were
billed to speak at Carthage today at
the opening of Circuit Court, an un-
usually large crowd was present, as the
joint debate was fully expected and
urged by the friends of these candi-
dates for office.
Early this morning the Johnston cam
paign Committee extended to Mr.. Rus
sell an invitation to meet the distin-
guished representative from Coahoma
in joint debate today as we'll as at all
other speaking engagements of Mr..
Johnston The challenge for today was
promptly accepted by Mr.. Russell's
friends and thereby Leake and adjoin-
ing counties probably got a taste Of
the present melee little more excit-
ing and peppery than will be seen
hereafter during the campaign, as it
is generally thought that Mr.. Russell
will not accept the challenge of the
gentleman from Coahoma for further
Joint discussion
Senator Ellis Presided.
After Judge A J. McLaurin had
charged the jury, Senator w. A. Ellis,
having been elected to preside over
the joint discussion, introduced the
candidates to at least 1900 people as
sembled to hear the rival aspirants
present their claims for the governor
ship. Mr.. Russell spoke first, there
being no limit, going fully into the
record of the present administration,
for the acting and doing of which he
assumed the attitude of standing spon-
sor
He was in fine fett1e and with clear
voice and ringing tones detailed the
performance OF campaign promises
made during the last gubernatorial
race by the present administration
In Mississippi He touched upon the
agricultural high schools now located
In 49 counties of the State, and claim
ed credit for himself and the Bilbo
administration for these institutions,
likewise taking credit for the bank
depository law, guaranteeing the bank
deposits of Mississippi banks. He COM
mended the work of the State Board CT
Health, the conduct Of the peniten-
tiary farms, during the present admin
istration and assailed his opponent
Mr.. Johnston. for his stand against the
elective judiciary.
Contrasts Himself With Johnston.
He then went into his own record
claiming for himself the title of JEFF
fersonian Democrat and denouncing
his opponent, Mr.. Johnston, as Ham
iltonian Democrat, the one being the
party of the people, by the people and
for the people; the other he termed
the control of the many by the few.
He had advocated, he said, the inlti-
ative and referendum, while he claimed
that his opponent was not in favor or
these laws He wanted the recall also
enacted in Mississippi, and proposed
advocating it if elected He claimed for
the present administration or its dis
ciples passage of the anti-land corpora
ton bill and in this connection charged
that Oscar Johnston was the candidate
of Brewer and his faction in Mlssls-
gippi politics He was in favor of the
retention of the Board of Pardons and
of a broad road building programme.
Discussed His Own Platform.
Mr.. Russell then proceeded to discuss
his own platform and the things for
which he stood and that would be adj
Yocated by him in the event of his
election. A bureau of markets he con-
sidered necessary for the farmers OF
the county, increased salaries of the
school for cripples and the malnten-
ance of the old soldiers at BeauVoir
to serve as clearing house or employ
ment for labor within the state, |
were other things which were men
toned by him as being among those
things fer whick he stood and which |
would be advocated by him in the
event of his election. He favored, he
said, the putting of the schools of the
gtate on the mileage basis.
After discussing these matters at
some length, Mr.. Russell went into
what is generally regarded in this sec
tion as the main issue in the campaign, |
the state tax equalization board or
state tax commission. He sought to
show where various counties, among |
them the county of Leake, had receiy- |
ed more money out of the state treas |
ury in the form of pensions and COM
mon school fund than they had paid
In by the way of taxes. He vigorous
" defended the state tax commission, |
saying that Capitalization of authority |
was the one thing to be desired AID |
absolutely necessary in the fixing OF
uniform assessments throughout the
state. He said that he understood that
his opponent was against It and sup
pcssd he would offer patent medicinal