Evening star., 1933-09-03
FEUC
REVIVED IN SPECIAL
SESSION QUESTION
Legislature May Limit Con-
Siderati0n to Constitu-
tionaI Convention.
BY REX B. MAGEE.
Special Dispatch to The Star


JACKSON. Miss, September q
g.Are-up Of an old political feud be-
tween Gov. Mike Conner and Lieut..
Gov. Dennis Murphree over the pro-
posed special session of the Mississippi
Legislature may limit the action of the
body to consideration of constitutional
convention. Whether or not this con-
vention, II provided for, will take up
the repeal Of the prohibition amend
ment depends upon the political de-
feud.
Conner was polling the Legislature by
mail and by interview over the proposed
special session to set up machinery for
adopting a new constitution for Missis-
stppi. Murphree, who had Cancelled
one Know Mississippi Better Train"
to Chicago so that he could be on hand
in the event Conner over calls the long
looked-for special session, openly op-
posed the Conner plan. Gov Conner
announced that legislative sentiment
was favorable to his plan. Murphree
announced, as presiding officer of the
State Senate, that the Senate was not.
A verbal war ensued.
Wet Victory Foreseen-
It Is believed In some circles that
tunity to vote on the prohibition issue
the tabled bone dry" State would go
wet. In spite Of the present State law,
beer continues to be sold In Mississippi
and In some sections of the State, par
ticularly the Mississippi Gulf Coast and
the Mississippi Delta, IS being served
over the counter and at tables in repu-
table cafes and at reasonable instead OF
bootleg prices. Beer is listed on the
printed menus Of some cafes However,
in the towns where an attempt to en-
force the dry law Is made the beer
price Is boosted and ranges from 70
cents to 35 cents bottle.
A significant sign in Mississippi as
to the change in sentiment was the
appeal Of Senator Pat Harrison IN
speech In the State for the support OF
the people for the repeal as part OF
the Democratic platform. Another is
the party loyalty Of Mrs. Ellen S. Wood
ward, Democratic national executive
committeewoman, who is In favor OF
Mississippi expressing the will OF the
people on the repeal. Mrs. woodward
has Just left for Washington, where
she has assumed duties as assistant
Federal relief administrator. She re-
Gently was appointed to this post after
Harry Hopkins, Federal administrator,
had visited Mississippi. the state, TOO.
is to get additional funds and the relief
work will be continued, instead OF dis
continued, as was recently announced.
Opponents in 1927.
Conner who ran for Governor three
times before being elected, was opposed
by Murphree in 1927, who had become
Governor because of the death Of Gov.
Whitfield Bilbo, running third time.
was in the race. In an effort to elm
mate Conner, the Murphree leaders in
duced their candidate to make an open
attack upon the legislative record OF
Conner and at a country picnic ad-
vertised far and wide as a "joint de-
bate" affair.
Murphree launched the attack on
Conner in a morning speech. Conner.
speaking In the afternoon and stingine
under The Murphree attack, said many
things.
The futility of the Conner and Muir
phree verbal battle at the Benton pic
mic some six years ago Is generally con-
ceded the chief factor in the election
Of Bilbo as Governor. Conner entered
the campaign the next time and was
elected. Murphree ran for Lieutenant
Governor and was elected. He is a can
didate for election as Governor in 1885.
However, the present tilt between Con-
ner and Murphree is not building any
good will for either.