The Semi-weekly leader., 1922-04-12
LANE QUESTIONS
RUSSELL'S SKILL
Legislators Say They Did the
Best They Could For
Constituents.

Jackson, Miss, April 8. - Tears
tJicl;led down the bronzed cheeks Of
GONE of the gray-headed members Of
the lower house Of the Legislature as
they bade farewell to their associates
of the past three months. These old
fellows were. called on for short
speeches to help kill the time while,
waiting the sine die adjournment and
their voices were choked with emo
tion. They all spoke feelingly and
from the bottom of their hearts.
Most, of them admitted that they had
fallen short of their resolves and
their promises to their constituents,
and were badly disappointed that
they were not able to do more for
the good of the state, but declared
they had done the best they could,
and were ready to render an account
of their stewardship to the folks
back home"
Mr.. Lane of Smith said he came
from county where there are no
rich men, but his folks were all good
honest people, and he was proud of
such constituency. He questioned
Governor Russell's statement he had
made in his vitriolic speech of the
night before when he stated among
other things, that he knew, the mo-
tives" of the members on their votes.
Mr.. Lane said he knew that Missis-
sippi had a remarkable governor a
distinguished man in/many respects
and wise above his fellows, but he
had never kniwn before than he
could look Into the future and fore
tell what was in the hearts Of men.
1t takes a great man to do that, and
knowing the governor as he did he
was constrained to think he had gone
little too strong on his ability to
read their motives. Mr.. Lane did not
believe the governor possessed any
such occult powers.
Mr.. Beacham, of Attala said he
belonged to no man and wore no
mans collar. never worked for
any other man a day in my life; 1
have always worked for myself, and
have voted as I pleased" he said.
Mr.. Flemming Of Jackson put in
ten minutes boosting his section of
the state and predicted that in course
of time the possibilities of the South
ern tier of counties would be known
to all the world. His fellow-citizens
were all wide-awake, progressive
men, no matter what their line Of
work. and were making the Gulf re-
gion blossom as the rose. He said
he had not accomplished all he pro-
missed his folks to do but he had done
the best he could.
Mr.. Pate of Kinds poked little
fun at his old college chum and
war comrade." Mr.. Wilroy, and then
compared him and other Legislators
to the rhinoceros, both having a
thick hide and short memory" He
declared there was no venom in his
heart for any member and he loved
Jeff Collins and Joe Owen like bro
ther. Mr.. Pate advised the voters of
the several counties to select good
men for the Legislature next time,
and to look carefully after their
Boards of Supervisors. He also said
that he agreed with Governor Rus
sell in the statement that this was
the "best legislature Mississippi had
assembled in 100 years" whereat Mr..
Watts of Rankin groaned.
DR.. Curry of Kinds said that he
had not cast a vote during the ses-
sion that he would recall If he could,
having voted his honest convictions
on every proposition that came UP
and said he had done the best he
could.
Nh, McGraw of Yazoo declared that
some of the members had been play
ing politics and were controlled
largely by factional felings but he
was not built that way and had done
his duty as he saw it.
MIR. Sheldon of Washington, the
only Republican member, said that
after having served two sessions in
the Legislature, he had come to the
conclusion there is not much differ
ence between Democrat and Re-
publican, and expressed appreciation
of the great consideration that had
been shown him. He said Mississippi
is the greatest state, from an agri-
cultural standpoint in the union, heI
soil and climate being superior tc
that in Iowa. With tile drainage and
fertilization, he said, 100 bushels OF
corn could be made on most any acre
of land in the state. He saw bright
future for Mississippi.
Mr.. Sheldon asked unanimous con.
sent to call up Senator Sykes bill
requiring the capitols to be kept
lighted during state fairs.
At FIVE minutes to IL O'clock
Senate committee composed of Messrs
Stone, King and Hawthorn appeared
and reponaed the Senate was ready
to adjourn and asked for House
committee to join them, in notifying
the governor Messrs. Trammell. Ell.
liott and Mcmillan were named or
the part of the House, these being
the same old men who had given the
governor official notice of READINGS:
to adjourn two years ago.
Easter Home Coming.