The Durant news. (Durant, Miss.) 1882-1985, 1946-04-11

HAZEL
EYES
BY HAZEL

Personal to anyone concerned: /.
would like TO make it very plain that
the writer of this column has no per-
sonal axe to grind with anyone. l
have no interest whatsoever, and
have never had any interest with
anything or anyone concerned with
the slot machine and bootlegging
racket in Holmes county. I have not
had and do not expect to have a fuss
or falling out with the Sheriff of
Holmes County.
To make my position very plain l
should like to add my sole interest
in carrying the information / have
carried in these news columns con-
corning widespread ~lawlessness in
Holmes County is to acquaint the
people Of Holmes County of condi-
tons. That is the job of a newspa-
per . to keep the people informed
and that is what this country
weekly newspaper is doing.
Sentiments or opinion expressed
in this column and in the editorial
columns Of this paper are carried as
my opinion based on what l see,
what I know to be the truth or what
think is the truth. They are opin-
ions and can be taken or left 80. ! do
not hold q gun on anyone to force
him to read this column.
I should like, also, to warn those
persons responsible for various 'ru-
mors" being circulated that you had
better watch your step. There are
laws on the statutes regarding SIAN
der . . . and while every word you
have to say about the writer helps
more than it hurts $50. you will be
called upon to prove what you say
II you continue. =
There is really no reason why l
should make the above statements
except that some of my good friends
have asked me to do so. There is no
need to state my position because you
who are trying to impugn Chat
means to insinuate against) my mo-
tives, don't amount to anything any
way. But I have always stood Tor
what I think is right, when the time
70 take a stand comes.
I supported in these columns some
time back the fight to retain Legal
beer in Holmes County. If the same
thing was to do over today would
do the same thing. / was against
taking the legal sale of beer away
from respectable places n giving
il to the bootlegger where he could
charge double and am stli
against giving it to him.
I was against the b~ootlegger then
and l am against him now. l think
the sale OF whiskey should be legal
lied and have strict law enforce
ment and control. Only then will we
be able to get rid Of the numerous
Joints that lire our highways cor
rupting the young people OF our
communities and breaking down all
respect for law.
But until the day when Missis-
sippi citizens wake up to what Is
happening in our midst l shall stand
for the strict enforcement of the pro-
hibition laws we have and our laws
against gambling.
/ am no lily-white reformer or
crusader. | have no illusions that the
sale of whiskey can be stopped all
together in Holmes County be-
cause too many of III citizens want
it. But the people of Holmes
County do not want organized crime
in this county with protection
and that is what think we have q.
what a lot of citizens think, for that
matter.
I hope l have made myself very
plain.
Judge r. E. McNeer, Justice OF
the Peace, Beat 2, swore in four spe-
cial deputies for a raid on three
Joints Just outside the city limits OF
Duon+ uodpacday NIGHT A fourth