Carl C. White (born 1888 or 1889; died August 26, 1977)[1] was an American politician who served in the Mississippi House of Representatives from 1924 to 1928 and as the state auditor of Mississippi from 1928 to 1932.[2][3]

Photograph of White from a Clarion-Ledger election advertisement, 1935

State representative (1924–1928) edit

White announced his campaign for Mississippi state representative in March 1923.[4] He won the Democratic primary and was unopposed in the general election.[5] During his time in the legislature, he was the chairman of the Universities and Colleges Committee.[6]

In August 1926, he announced his intention to run for state auditor of Mississippi.[7] White defeated primary opponent Macey Dinkins by over 40,000 votes,[8] receiving the most votes of any statewide candidate that year.[9] After the primary, auditor-elect White became a pay warrant clerk in the state auditor's office to prepare for the duties of the office.[10] He was unopposed in the general election, and was sworn in as state auditor on January 16, 1928.[11]

State auditor (1928–1932) edit

White oversaw the collection of a new statewide five-cent per gallon gasoline tax passed by the state legislature in 1929.[12] He threatened to sue the city of Jackson and other cities for refusing to pay the tax.[13]

In September 1929, it was reported that Governor Theodore G. Bilbo requested financial investigations of White, as well as Mississippi secretary of state Walker Wood and state superintendent W. F. Bond.[14] Bilbo's political allies justified the requests as "a thorough house cleaning", while critics alleged that he wanted to amass control of the state departments.[15] In a statement, White welcomed the potential probe, stating that his office was "open at any and all times for probe or inquiry".[16] He was summoned before a joint legislative investigative committee in October 1929, without any specific complaints being filed.[17]

1935 state auditor campaign edit

White announced his intention to run for a second term as state auditor on April 21, 1934.[18] He led the first round of the Democratic primary election, receiving 44.5 percent of the vote compared to Carl Craig (34.1 percent) and Grover C. Ballard (21.4 percent).[19] A runoff election between White and Craig was held because no candidate received more than 50 percent of the vote,[20] with Ballard endorsing White after being eliminated.[21] In the runoff, Craig won with 55.5 percent of the vote, receiving almost 40,000 more votes than White.[22]

References edit

  1. ^ "Services held for Carl White, former auditor for state". Hattiesburg American. August 28, 1977. p. 2. Retrieved March 14, 2021.
  2. ^ "Carl White Dies". Enterprise-Journal. July 17, 1964. p. 3. Retrieved March 14, 2021.
  3. ^ Emmerich, Oliver (July 20, 1964). "Highlights in the Headlines". Enterprise-Journal. p. 1. Retrieved March 14, 2021.
  4. ^ "Just About People". The Newton Record. March 15, 1923. p. 5. Retrieved March 16, 2021.
  5. ^ "Thirty members are re-elected to House of Representatives". The Winona Times. September 14, 1923. p. 8. Retrieved March 16, 2021.
  6. ^ "Schauber fails to appear before colleges committee summoned for this afternoon". Clarion-Ledger. March 5, 1924. p. 9. Retrieved March 16, 2021.
  7. ^ "C. C. White is in fight for auditor". The Winona Times. August 6, 1926. p. 1. Retrieved March 16, 2021.
  8. ^ "Lowrey Love Not Elected To Office In First Primary". The Yazoo Herald. August 12, 1927. Retrieved March 16, 2021.
  9. ^ "C. C. White breaks record". Clarion-Ledger. September 1, 1927. Retrieved March 16, 2021.
  10. ^ "C. C. White gets post in present auditor's office". The Newton Record. September 8, 1927. p. 3. Retrieved March 16, 2021.
  11. ^ "Will take oath January 16th". Semi-Weekly Journal. September 10, 1927. p. 1. Retrieved March 16, 2021.
  12. ^ "Auto registrations are off: nearly 50,000 for 1929 say figures compiled so far". Clarion-Ledger. February 3, 1929. p. 2. Retrieved March 18, 2021.
  13. ^ "$750 is saved by city; refuse to pay gas tax". Clarion-Ledger. July 24, 1929. p. 16. Retrieved March 18, 2021.
  14. ^ "Probes Hold Political Spotlight During Week". Clarion-Ledger. September 10, 1929. p. 14. Retrieved March 18, 2021.
  15. ^ "Committee Moving in Secrecy On New Probe". Clarion-Ledger. September 13, 1929. p. 12. Retrieved March 18, 2021.
  16. ^ "Auditor would welcome probe". Clarion-Ledger. September 19, 1929. p. 9. Retrieved March 18, 2021.
  17. ^ "Quiz state officers and school heads in Bilbun probe". Clarksdale Press Register. October 11, 1929. p. 1. Retrieved March 18, 2021.
  18. ^ "Political fires are catching". Clarion-Ledger. April 22, 1934. p. 1. Retrieved March 18, 2021.
  19. ^ "Final Count Gives Johnson Slight Lead". The Coffeeville Courier. August 16, 1935. p. 1. Retrieved March 11, 2021.
  20. ^ "Elections". The Greenwood Commonwealth. August 12, 1935. p. 1. Retrieved March 11, 2021.
  21. ^ "Ballard Supports Carl C. White". Clarion-Ledger. August 14, 1935. p. 2. Retrieved March 11, 2021.
  22. ^ "Relatively Close Final Results Seen in Minor State Races". Clarion-Ledger. August 30, 1935. p. 1. Retrieved March 11, 2021.