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


out the following statement:
To Mississippians:
The first primary is thing Of
the past. Of the popular vote as
given to me | received 22,805, Judge
: Critz 34,302 and Mr.. Vardaman
38,649. This may not include every
county but is approximately correct.
The electoral provision Of the pri
mary law to which | always objected,
and which the next legislature ought
to eliminate, has no application.
A second primary for governor
ship and a direct expression by ma
jority vote, is, | am glad to say, leg
llally required. Organization, far less
thorough than that of either of my
competitors, enable their supporters
through combined efforts directed to
that end, to keep me out Of the
second primary, by creating a gross
underestimate Of my strength.
To my friends throughout Mis-
sissippi, including many Of the
best people who hive, who treated me
with the uttermost kindness and hos
pitality, owe and gladly acknowledge
debt Of undying gratitude. The
remembrance of their good will and
help ill also be fondly cherished.
Being now out of the race | want all
to understand that in this contest |
claim nothing from my former sup
porters, as such. The debt is in
their favor. Any considerable ma
jority Of my supporters can easily
determine the next governorship and
on them the responsibility rest. Be-
fore action, suggest that each calm
ly and truly review the whole situation
then vote according to the dictates Of
his judgement.
As my own position is being var
iously quoted and misquoted, in JUS
tice to myself, I desire my friends
everywhere to know that the primary
has not in the slightest changed my
views on any question. We have an
excellent constitution and system of
law, which our supreme court declared
gave to our white people all the
power and privilege which the United
States constitution would admit. A
better understanding and enforce
ment, is more desirable than radical
change, especially along lines which
have been previously attempted, with
uniformly disasterous result. Our
general material conditions are the
most favorable Of any period since
1910.
As far as my individual action goes
| shall take the two candidates at
their word, and be altogether govern
ed by measures and not by men and
unaffected by recent campaign Incl
dents.
My vote shall 60 to the candidate
who best represents conservatism
and who would be least Willing to
tear down the radical safeguards OF
our recent constitution until after
something feasible and superior, to be
erected in it's stead is laid before and
approved by the people Of our state.
The chief aim Of the primary cleo
tion law is to take from those who
held high official positions the power
Of using the prestige Of those posi-
tions or control election for other
offices. and thus defeat temptations
and opportunity. for ringism and
bossism; and to give to every individ-
ual voterthe right to equal expression
Of choice Of every Office. The issues
now before the people have been
fairly and thoroughly discussed and
a popular verdict has been rendered
in favor Of conservatism by an over
whelming majority, considering that
with two candidates this was the par
amount question.
| am not in and have never been in
any combination with any candidate
for any Office, and have nothing to
expect from the next administration
other than what will be shared by al
citiz ems alike. E. +. NOEL.
II vnu want the hest groceries b(