Okolona messenger. (Okolona, Miss.) 1900-current, 1919-06-12
At 1t Again


people" in the dark by the dust
of the battle between themselves.
That they are it again is evidenc-
ed by the excerpt, given below,
from the Aberdeen Weekly ian
ultra factional Sheet in an at
tempt to reply to what we had
to say relating to explanations
by certain interested politicians
of the way and manner whereby
Longino found money to build
the new capitol, and for other
purposes, without issuing a sin
gle bond. Notesthe mere asser-
tons without offering anything
like proof-a trick of the trade.
The Weekly says:
LAS a treasury emptier and
for judgment lacking prophet
ic financial vision, Mr.. Longino's
administration as governor stands
without a parallel. The wonder
is that anybody has the political
gall to feature it in any other
way. What Mr.. Vardaman says
about it is right; what Mr.. Rus
sell says about it is right, and
even what Mr.. Johnston says
about it is fact-the statements
of these three gentlemen make
up the whole truth, but what is
said by the Okolona Messenger
in the above clipping is calculat-
ed to mislead, because it inter-
prets as laudable those acts in
Mr.. Longino's administration,
which when candidly stated, will
condemn it. The record of the
financial wizard won't bear the
light of research nor criticism.
When subjected to the crucial
test of investigation and fact, it
discloses the skeleton of a one
time governor who spent all the
money left in the treasury by his
predecessors and sold the State
lands at a time that sacrificed
thousands of dollars of loss to
the State. 4"
Longino a treasury emptier"!
Wouldn't that take your breath
No candidate for governor has
had the temerity to accuse MIR.
Longino of emptying the treasu-
ry. The nearest to this charge
that we have seen is that he Dor
rowed money in the summer be-
fore he went out of Office.
Let's consult the record rath-
err than the Weekly for fac.s.
The record shows that when Mr.
Longino went out of office there
was in the state treasury 1892, -
$50. 46. But his enemies tell US
there was a floating debt of
$121, 900. Charging this off, it
leaves a net balance of S761, =
$50. 46. Then, these same oppo-
nents tell US that McLaurine left
1884, 900 in the treasury
with only $1,000 floating debts,
or a net balance of 1923, 600.
deducting this from the net bal
ance above leaves $439, $50. 46 as
net encrease in the States avil-
able cash made during Longino's
administration. Does this look
like Longino emptied the treasu-
ry?
But there were extraordinary
sums paid into the treasury.
Yes, and there were extraordi-
nary expenditures. Let's ex-
anime into these. The College
and Chickasaw school lands were
sold for $575, 844.47, and Writ
Adams turned in for back taxes
This makes a total of 1921, 1906. SO.
Against this sum, the capitol
cost 81, 100000, $4,000 worth
of state bonds were retired, and
the Parchman farm was purchas-
ed for $40, 7OO.16. This makes a
total of 81, 479, TOOLS. These
transactions leaves a balance in
favor of the administration of
1888, 303.17. Adding this sum
to the $439, 500. 46, the net in
crease in the States available
cash, gives US 1897, 859.63 to
credit to the Longino admins
tration. In comparison note the
results of subsequent admins