The progress-advertiser. (Lexington, Miss.) 1902-1903, 1903-08-13

Critz campaign workers to create the
impression that he was practically
out of the race. and had but a very
small following. For month or two,
Mr. Noel has realized that Mr.. Varda-
man would be in the second primary,
with either himself or Judge Critz
representing the conservative ele-
ment. From his information, while
the Critz people were making much
the most noise, he was convinced
that he had the larger popular fol
lowing, and that he would win, unless
that part of the conservative vote
who were so fearful Of Maj. Varda-
mans vagaries, that the would lay
all personal preferences aside and,
vote either for Noel or Judge Critz
according to their opinion of their
relative strength, deeming that it
was the highest call of patriotism
to put their votes for the conserva-
tive candidate who would most likely
win.
At this juncture, it was every evid-
ent that the Vardaman workers pre-
ferred Critz and the Critz workers
Vardaman, in the second primary,
each believing that Nool was the
most difficult man to defeat, in the
second primary. Under these con-
ditions the Vardaman workers turned
every vote possible to Critz, which
they could not get themselves.
Their leading campaign circular,
written by DIR. B. F. Ward, Of Winona,
clearly shows this, as will be seen
| from the following extract
Every negro in the state want
Longino and Noel elscted, but Noel
is practically out of the race and he
knows it" For the last two months
and up to the closing of the polls
this circular was industriously dis
tributed. In the race between Critz
| Noel, for the majority of the conser-
vative vote, which has been a very
hard fight, for about two months,
these and other utterance from the
| Vardaman men, did more for Critz,
and against Noel than anything that
Critz men did do or could have done.
The statement Of this circular was
wholly wrong, and to this Dr.. Wards
attention was called some time ago by
Sena tor Noel, and a correction re-
quested, which was never made.
| The circulars were continuously dis
tributed. As we'll known, Senator Noel
did more than any man in Mississippi
| since the adoption of the constitution,
for white supremacy, by drafting and
advocating the primary election law
by means OF which the negro was,
| for the first time, entirely excluded
from nominations by white people
and every white man was given an.
equal voice. Mr.. Noel was not known
of, 'out side of Holmes County, by one
negro in hundred; and negroes had
nothing whatever to do with the
nomination, except when thus used
as Fbugbears, in appeals to radlca
prejudice. Mr.. Noel was not out Of
the race, as shown by The fact, that
with a change Of about 5000 of the
voter, which the Vardaman people
helped to drive from him to Judge
Critz, he would have led both Crit
and SVardaman. Not only did Mr.
Noel ynever admit but never knew
until the vote was taken, that he was
not to lead Judge Critz, nor was thai
| fact known to any one else.
This circular was followed up BY
another circular, generally distributed
by Vardamau workers, which coulC
not have intended otherwise than {
help for Judge Critz, !at the expense
Of Mr.. Noel, by encouraging the Crit
people and discouraging those fol-
Mr.. Noel. This ciacular, now be-
fore us. contained the follwing par
graph:
"You cannot afford to lose YOU
vote in this election. There is tot
much at stake. The integrity Of tht
state must be upheld. It is not tins
chasing rainbows. Mr.. Noel is prac.
tically out Of the race.
"A vote for Noel is a vote lost"