The Durant news. (Durant, Miss.) 1882-1985, 1939-07-27
through
Hazel
Eyes

printed elsewhere on this page. 1t
should be read by every candidate
for sheriff and by every voter.
The writer of the letter, Ellison
Salley, we believe expresses the sen
timent Of all the people of Holmes
county when he says the people of
Holmes county are awaiting some
statement made publicly by a can
didate for sheriff that he will do
everything in his power to "eradi
cate the fragrant violations of our
prohibition laws"
We know that many persons feel
that it Is impossible for the sheriff's
office to keep Holmes county free
OF the fifty or SO bootlegging estab-
lishments that are now in actual
operation i'm this county. II
these establishments are as numer-
Gus on the western side Of the coun-
ty as they are on this side there
are more than fifty.
We believe also tina. a lot of good
people who are acquainted with ac-
tual present day conditions would
gladly vote for repeal OF the prohi-
bition laws in favor of state-owned
and operated stores II they did know
actual conditions.
We know that liquor Is with US
and is always going to be. AS a
matter Of fact from the beginning
OF the state our pioneer citizens were
want to boast of their fine
WHISTLES. Thus 1t would SEEM that
the solution OF our problems rests
in repeal That however, is left up
to our state legislature.
SO our immediate problem is T.
elect a man to office that will try
to enforce the prohibition laws W,
have
We know the situation in Holmes
county today, with "honky-tonks" at
every turn of the road. Is both re-
voting and disgusting to people who
drink and certainly to those who
don't.
These solcalled ''honky-tonks'' are
more dangerous than the whiskey
they sell.
The degrading influence they have
on the boys and girls who go to
them in search of something to do
can not be told in words.
The slot machines which breed
gambling and the women they find
in these places are certainly not g
wholesome influence to say the least
We believe the people of Holme.
County are fed up with this sort Of
tlting and want man In the she
riffs office who will stop IL.
How can we expect the other laws
of the county to be enforced when
whiskey and slot machines are run
ming wide open.
The breakdown In all law enforce.
ment caused from these conditions
Is Of paramount Importance.
Vote for a man you KNOW will
try to enforce these laws.
The sheriff's office is not the only
office IN the county. All of the coun-
ty officials are important. They as
sess our property and set the mills
we pay for taxes. And they spend
the tax money.
We hear officials criticized severe
ly all the time for the things they
do and the things they fail to do.
Everyone of the officials in office
have been elected by the people of
the county
We should have no kick to make
after we put them in there.
The officeholder is going to do what
is expected Of him.
We voters should make it clear
that we want less taxation, more
economy. and efficiency. less gov
eminent and hence better govern
ment
The voters Of Holmes county should
think carefully before they elect any
man to office. Any citizen can find
out which candidate in the various
races will make the best officials.
All he has to do is little investigat-
ing.
or course we have candidates who
will promise" us anything.
But we can usually tell whether
a promise means anything or not
Its great idea to look at past
performances.
We commend the action of County
Attorney Pat Barrett in securing a
plea of guilty from at least one Ii
quor operator in the county and the
stiff fines Of 500 and 30 days for
hquor and 500 and so days for pos
session OF slot machines to the same
person.
TyhAs news comes as we go to
press.
If the County Attorney keeps up
this good work and the officials
who try the cases cooperate as we'll
IT. won't be very long before little
Rankin County win quit running
wide open.
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