The Brandon news. (Brandon, Miss.) 1892-1961, 1923-07-12
Conner and Whitfield
Compared
That aleigh Debate

Six weeks ago Franklin while speaking at
PHILADELPHIA saw Professor Whitfield enter the
hall. He forthwith invited him to the platform,
attacked him on some grounds, and asked him to
state his position on some others Here was Wnlt-
fields great opportunity Did he seize it and show
up the fallacies Of Mr.. Franklin's reasoning and
the inconsistencies of his position? Not on your
life! The report has it that the Professor rose,
praised his audience, INDUCED in some gEtterlng
generalities and proved truisms, mopped his brow,
declared that all these questions OF state would be
settled as they arose. looked at his watch and an
nounced that it was about time for the dinner
horn to blow and the fried chicken to appear, and
sat down leaving the Democrats chagrlned and the
Russelites gOating.
Mr. Franklin tried these same tactics at
Raleigh the other day, with Sennett Conner follow
ing him Immediately. And what Conner did to him
was aplenty For this time, RussePs Amounted one
had met profound student of government and
not mere superficial thinker re ran into real
statesman and not merely good school teacher;
he butted into man with record to be proud OF
and an opinion he isn't afraid to express and not
into candidate who has never announced his
platform and who seems to be running on his gen
era reputation as a good school teacher and
nice man.
The chance meeting of Lester Franklin and
Sennet Conner bids fair to become one of the real
landmarks in the gubernatoral campaign. The two
gentlemen not only rival candidates Tor the
governorship but the leading spokesman for two
antagonistic schools of thought in Mississippi poll
tics Mr. Franklin is Lee Russells anointed sue
cessor and has the support of the existing political
machine. Mr.. Conner as the apostle OF clean gov
eminent and business administration is recogniz-
ed as the leader Of the simon-pure Democrats.
Early reports of Mr.. Franklins overwhelming
defeat at the hands of Mr. Conner have been borne
out by later statements from other impartial
observers The aggressive Speaker OF the House
literally tore his opponent to pieces. Even Frank
Inns strongest friends admit that their candidate
by taking the offensive and attacking Mr. Conner,
laid himself open to a severe drubbing. The pro-
duction of Lee Russes latest episte to the faith
full and Corners challenge to Franklin to repudiate
it; Corners bold reading of Franklins checkered
legislative record from the official Journal; and
above all Stokes Robertsons admission from the
floor that Conner had been fair to him far as he
knew-all these were body blows from which
Franklin will never recover.
The Raleigh debate has certainly cleared the
air. Henceforth the thinking voters of Mississippi
both men and women will look to Sennett Conner
as the leader in the fight for clean government,
business government, and constructive program.
He has proved himself worthy Conner and Whit
field are both heightened Christian gentlemen But
thousands upon thousands of newly enfranchiSed
women and thousands of men have been looking
for a candidate who was not only clean and high
toned but who possessed the qualities of true
leadership as WELL We have found such man in
Sennett Conner. Today he is the leading candidate
for Governor with additional scores of thoughtful
people rallying beneath his @banner each day be-
cause of the realization that in him we have an
aggressive leader as well as forward looking
statesman and a christian gentleman-E Editorial
from Collins Commercial, June Is, 1923.
Mark One for Mike and Make
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