The Brandon news. (Brandon, Miss.) 1892-1961, 1922-03-30
CAN SUCH THINGS BE, AND
OVERCOME US?
AND

The queer developments made Dy
the several probing committees Of
the House" at Jackson, bid us
pause. and reflect; can sYcb
things be, and. overcome us?' The
Governor,has so far net only fail
ed to establish single charge of
those made in his last message"
first, that the insurance interest
instigated, the suit, at Collins,
against the Life Insurance Com
panies; second, that they were
maintaining pernicious lobby,
in the interest of the Fire Insur-
ance Companies, to control legis-
lation favorably to those compa-
MES; and lastly that, the insurance
companies, instigated the suit, of
Miss Birkhead, against him for
100000 damages. The committee
called on the Governor for any wit
nesses he might desire to estab-
lish his charges, and asked him to
appear before the committee, as a
witness, but mirabile dictu, the in
dignant Governor refused to ap-
pear, but claimed that he got his
information OF the first charge
and elso the secoad from the Re-
venue Agcas, lid suggested that
he be called before the committee.
but alas, he could surmise from
circumstances, that the charges
were true. He knew no definite
fact, nor did he state any. The
statement he made that Speaker
Conner, told him that he saw I'D
Dent, Bob Dent, Hugh Mcintosh,
Dan Mcintosh, R. L. McLaurin,
and Sidney L. McLaurin, with
their heads together" in Jackson,
and that this might explain the
filing of the suit,against the Life
Insurance Companies. Speaker
Conner, denied this statement IN
toto; saying che had seen these
gentlemen at various times, but
not with their heads together"
that he had drawn no such con-
illusions, as suggested by tie Re-
venue Agent himself. Conner de-
MED that he had made the asser-
ton attributed to him in the tes-
timony of the Revenue Agent. A
number of insurance agents;
among the most reputable citi+
zens of the State denied before
the committee the charges of the
Governor. And now Genes the
probe into the school Book
Scandal" in which Prof. Joe
Cook, now President of the State
Normal College at Hattiesburg,
who was in the Governors good
graces, and as it appears acting
as his "go-between" in selecting
members of the Commission"
who would vote for the books,
that Gov. Russell desired to have
adopted. Brooks declined the
place on these terms. he says
Has it come to this that men
high in position, could lend them
selves to a scheme to put the pre-
sent high priced books upon lit
tie children of the State? For
the honor Of the State we trust
not, yet this is in the charges,
for inquiry by the committee, and
the high priced books are here.
Why was the Governor interested
in any particular book, what
prompted the interest Of him or
any one else? The people have
a right to know, if the high up Of
ficials have thrown their influ-
ence against them, and to book
agent.
Next is the probe into report
ed shortage in the Office Of the In
surance Commissioner, which
will also go to the Courts. OF
course we do not know; differen-
ceS have arisen between the Com
missioner and Revenue Agent,
and the experts, and the end is
not yet. In all this, it looks bad
for the State; possibly it may
stimulate our people to be care
full hereafter, in selecting. men
for honorable places. You can't
make a purse out of 'sows ear,
nor "can a stream rise higher
than it source" This may be one
trouble, but we have hope yet, of
better things.
DRY GRE Elk