The Durant news. (Durant, Miss.) 1882-1985, 1943-08-19
Conner Cites Record
As Basis For Support
OF State Voters

Pointing to his first primary lead of
$4,000 as evidence that fractional lines
in Mississippi" have been broken in the
support Of his candidacy, Mike Conner
approached the last few days of his
second primary speaking tour this week
with confidence he will lead Tom Bailey,
his runoff opponent, by a Handsome
majority on August "a.
In his addresses over the state, Con-
ner this week told enthusiastic crowds
composed of former Murphree and
Franklin supporters as we'll as longtime
Conner supporters that "ths people who
were starving in depression years will
remember that l went to Washington
and secured millions of dollars for their
relief.
"The old people, the blind, the Grip
pies and the dependent children will re-
member that | was the first governor
to urge the legislature to appropriate
state money to help them. and that the
Conner administration was the first in
states history to give them one penny
of assistance.
"The small home owner will remem-
Der that l was the first governor who
ever urged the legislature to exempt
their homes from taxation, and that the
Conner administration was the first ad-
ministration to grant them any home
stead exemption from taxes.
"The small farmer will remember that
I was the first governor to ask the legis-
lature to exempt from taxes his cattle,
mules, horses and other personal prop
erty, and to relieve him of the burden
of working the public roads.
"Other average people will remember
that the Conner administration reopen
ed the charity hospital and kept the
public schools open when they were
threatened with closing.
.The average man will remember that
Conner WAS the first governor in
America to establish a mercy court and
give hearings and proper relief to the
f~riendless and penniless convicts in the
state pcnitentiary."
Likewise, Conner said, these average
men, these "plain p~eople"-will remem-
Der that Mr.. Bailey sat in the legis-
lature for "a years and did nothing
for them. He did not so much as in
and the small farmer tax exemptions or
relief.
"They will also remember that Mr..
Bailey occupied the same position in the
n.Iln l~.s.a%.ott1 frc~ 1909 RI 1920
that he occupied in the Conner admin
istration, Immediately succeeding the
Bilbo administration, from 1882 to 1886;
that he appointed the house committee
that drafted the revenue program for
the Bilbo administration in 1880.
"They will remember that this pro-
gram, drafted and approved by the
Bailey committee, was passed by the
legislature and became law without the
signature of Governor Bilbo, who said
at that time it was unsound and in
adequate.
"As a result Of the Bailey revenue
program, the states credit was de-
stroyed, the charity hospitals were fore
ed to close their doors to the average
man, the average teacher and the Con-
federate soldiers could not cash their
warrants; the state became bankrupt,
and the average mantle plain people
for whom Mr.. Bailey now pines-were
suffering and losing their homes under
heavy taxation"
Conner said Bailey claims all Conner
did twas to sign the bills he passed.
Naturally, the average man would like
to know why Bailey did not pass the
bills for their relief before Conner be-
came governor"