Changes

Johnson carried the backing of the Mississippi Municipal Association, which consisted of most of the state's Democratic mayors. That endorsement prompted Phillips to cancel a scheduled appearance before the group.<ref>''Greenville Delta Democrat-Times'', September 12, 1963; Biloxi-Gulfport Daily Herald'', September 4, 11, 1963; ''The New York Times,'' October 26, 1963.</ref>​

Johnson carried the backing of the Mississippi Municipal Association, which consisted of most of the state's Democratic mayors. That endorsement prompted Phillips to cancel a scheduled appearance before the group.<ref>''Greenville Delta Democrat-Times'', September 12, 1963; Biloxi-Gulfport Daily Herald'', September 4, 11, 1963; ''The New York Times,'' October 26, 1963.</ref>​

Johnson refused to debate Phillips and expressed irritation over the fact that he was the first Democrat nominee since 1947 to have Republican opposition. [[Carroll Gartin]], the former lieutenant governor seeking to regain the position on Johnson's ticket, declared Phillips' candidacy "a great disservice" to the state because "everyone had a chance to run as a Democrat."<ref>''The Hattiesburg American,'' October 9, 1963.</ref> ''The Jackson Daily News'' similarly declared it a "nuisance" to hold a general election after two all-encompassing Democratic primaries.<ref>''The Jackson Daily News,'' October 16, 1963.</ref>​

Johnson refused to debate Phillips and expressed irritation over the fact that he was the first Mississippi Democratic nominee since 1947 to have Republican opposition. [[Carroll Gartin]], the former lieutenant governor seeking to regain the position on Johnson's ticket, declared Phillips' candidacy "a great disservice" to the state because "everyone had a chance to run as a Democrat."<ref>''The Hattiesburg American,'' October 9, 1963.</ref> ''The Jackson Daily News'' similarly declared it a "nuisance" to hold a general election after two all-encompassing Democratic primaries.<ref>''The Jackson Daily News,'' October 16, 1963.</ref>​

In Water Valley in northern Mississippi, Phillips challenged Johnson's proposal to change election laws, suggesting that his rival would create "a dictatorship ... so Republicans and [[Independents]] cannot run for office."<ref name="ReferenceC"/> Unlike neighboring [[Louisiana]], which in 1975 abolished one of the three elections in the cycle, the Mississippi legislature never revised the state's election law. Some had argued that such a change might hamper efforts to recruit northern industries into the South.<ref>''The Jackson Clarion-Ledger,'' October 28, 1963.</ref><ref>''The New York Times'', April 12 and May 10–14, 1964.</ref>

In Water Valley in northern Mississippi, Phillips challenged Johnson's proposal to change election laws, suggesting that his rival would create "a dictatorship ... so Republicans and [[Independents]] cannot run for office."<ref name="ReferenceC"/> Unlike neighboring [[Louisiana]], which in 1975 abolished one of the three elections in the cycle, the Mississippi legislature never revised the state's election law. Some had argued that such a change might hamper efforts to recruit northern industries into the South.<ref>''The Jackson Clarion-Ledger,'' October 28, 1963.</ref><ref>''The New York Times'', April 12 and May 10–14, 1964.</ref>

Bidwell Adam declared that Paul Johnson "towers like the giants of the forest above the man (Phillips) who is grazing in the pastures of filth." He predicted voters would give Phillips "the brass ring of political ingratitude that he so richly deserves" and claimed that Phillips would be "buried in a political boneyard of forgotten men."<ref>''Jackson Clarion-Ledger,'' October 31, 1963.</ref> Phillips later recalled that he and Adam "buried the hatchet and became warm friends" after that campaign when they worked together on the same side in a lawsuit.<ref>"Challenging the Status Quo," p. 255.</ref>​

Bidwell Adam declared that Paul Johnson "towers like the giants of the forest above the man (Phillips) who is grazing in the pastures of filth." He predicted voters would give Phillips "the brass ring of political ingratitude that he so richly deserves" and claimed that Phillips would be "buried in a political boneyard of forgotten men."<ref>''Jackson Clarion-Ledger,'' October 31, 1963.</ref> Phillips later recalled that he and Adam "buried the hatchet and became warm friends" after that campaign when they worked together on the same side in a lawsuit.<ref>"Challenging the Status Quo," p. 255.</ref>​

The campaign featured an exchange between GOP chairman Yerger and Senator James Eastland, who missed nearly thirty roll call votes while in Mississippi to campaign for Paul Johnson. In 1966, Wirt Yerger resigned as GOP chairman and considered challenging Eastland until U.S. Representative [[Prentiss Walker]] of [[Mize, Mississippi|Mize]] entered the race. Years later, Yerger said that Walker's decision to relinquish his House seat after one term for the vagaries of a Senate race was "very devastating" to the growth of the Mississippi GOP.<ref>"Challenging the Status Quo," p. 256</ref>

The campaign featured an exchange between GOP chairman Yerger and Senator James Eastland, who missed nearly thirty roll call votes while in Mississippi to campaign for Paul Johnson. In 1966, Wirt Yerger resigned as GOP chairman and considered challenging Eastland until U.S. Representative Prentiss Lafayette Walker (1917-1998) of Mize entered the race. Years later, Yerger said that Walker's decision to relinquish his House seat after one term for the vagaries of a Senate race was "very devastating" to the growth of the Mississippi GOP.<ref>"Challenging the Status Quo," p. 256</ref>

In Parchman in Sunflower County, Phillips declared the Mississippi State Penitentiary "a disgrace" and called for a constitutional board "free of politics to exercise responsible leadership" at the institution then known for brutal practices. Phillips recounted the case of inmate Kimble Berry, serving time for [[manslaughter]] who was granted leave in 1961 by acting Governor Johnson but showed up in a [[Cadillac]] in [[Massachusetts]] claiming that he had been authorized to recover [[burglary]] loot.<ref>''Memphis Commercial Appeal'', October 24, 1963.</ref><ref>''The Meridian Star,'' October 11, 1963.</ref>​

In Parchman in Sunflower County, Phillips declared the Mississippi State Penitentiary "a disgrace" and called for a constitutional board "free of politics to exercise responsible leadership" at the institution then known for brutal practices. Phillips recounted the case of inmate Kimble Berry, serving time for [[manslaughter]] who was granted leave in 1961 by acting Governor Johnson but showed up in a [[Cadillac]] in [[Massachusetts]] claiming that he had been authorized to recover [[burglary]] loot.<ref>''Memphis Commercial Appeal'', October 24, 1963.</ref><ref>''The Meridian Star,'' October 11, 1963.</ref>​