The sea coast echo. [volume] (Bay Saint Louis, Miss.) 1892-current, 1907-06-22
MISSISSIPPI SENATORSHIPS. = SOME COM
MONPLACE FACTS.


sissippi when the present terms Of Sena-
tor Money and Senator McLaurin in the
United States Senate expire, and, In
answering off-hand, he missed both by
two years. This gentleman is by no
means in a class to himself in this re-
spect, and, for the knowledge OF all OF
our readers who may not be correctly
informed on this subject, few facts are
recited here.
The full term of United States Sena-
tor is six years.
Senator Moneys present term began
on March 4, 1905, and will expire March
4, 1911. Senator McLaurin's present
term began March 4, 1907, and will ex-
pire March 4, 1918.
AS the United States statutes provide
that the successor of a United States
Senator shall be elected by the State
Legislature elected next preceding the
date vacancy is to occur, and Missis-
sippi elects its legislatures quadren-
.nially instead of biennially. The leg
islature which is elected this year and
takes its seat in January, 1908, will
choose Senator Moneys successor, and
the successor of Senator McLaurin will
be chosen by the legislature elected in
1912, which meets in January, 1913.
In Mississippi, where we have prac-
tically only one political party, it is
provided that candidates for the United
States Senate shall be nominated by a
direct vote of the people in general
primary election; it being assumed that
candidates for the Legislature nominated
at the same time will consider the vote
for United States Senator as their in
structions by the people and ratify the
choice thus registered when the legisla-
ture convenes the following January.
II vacancy should occur in either of
the seats now held by Senators Money
and McLaurin, by death or resignation,
when the legislature is not in session, it
would be the governors duty to appoint
d SCucibOL W LII tlO f0SoiGyy UAtS TOblN%
hold the office until the end of the term
or until the legislature met again and
elected the appointee's successor. The
governors Office is really a much greater
and more honorable Office than the Office
of United States Senator, because in
addition to his many other high and
important functions, a governor can, as
we have seen, under certain circum-
stances, make men United States Sena-
tors by appointment.
AS already stated, the legislature
elected this year will not choose Senator
McEaurin's successor, but the one
elected in 1912, and, unless he dies or
resigns, Senator McLaurin will con-
tinue to serve as senator nearly two
months after the man chosen governor
oyer four years from now has been in
augurated.
Turning now to the race between
Gov. Vardaman and Hon. John Sharp
Williams for the United States Senate:
This is contest for the term which be-
gins March 4, 1911, the day Senator
Moneys present term expires. The one
who receives majority of the popular
vote in the Democratic primary election
on the first day of August next will be
declared the nominee of the Democratic
party for this term, and it is presumed
the legislature will ratify the popular
choice by formally electing him,. as re-
quired by law, when it meets next Janu-
airy. However, it matters not which is
chosen, Vardaman or Williams, neither
could begin to serve as United States
Senator until March 4, 1911, or nearly
four years from this time, unless Sena-
tor Money should in the meantime re-
sign or die and the governor or iegisla-
ture fill the vacancy. by his appointment
or election to such vacancy.
Mr.. Williams is now serving as a
member of the United States House OF
Representatives, to which he was elected
last November, and the two-year term
of which Office began March 4, 1907. II
Mr.. Williams should be nominated and
elected United States Senator in the
contest now pending, he would have
time to serve out his present term as
representative and new term of two
years next following it, if he so desired,
before his term as senator would begin.
i governor Of Mississippi is prohibited
BY the constitution from Immediately
succeeding himself, and SO, If Governor
yardaman is elected senator, oyer three
years would elapse from the time he
vacates the governors chair next Janu-
airy until his senatorial term commenced.
There is one white woman already in
the penitentiary who will never get a
pardon from the present Governor OF
Mississippi, and she should not. She is
the one that married 4 negro. Jackson
Ledger.
The above item has been framed and
hangs IN spicuous place in our edi-
torial sanctum. 1t is the first instance
in which Editor Henry and GovernoI
yardaman have agreed. Hattierbure
Daily News.
Governor Vardaman and John Sharp
Williams have both accepted Invitations
to speak at Meridian on July 1. Now,
the Williams supporters are out of thun-
der again, especially the McComb City
EnteTprise. noplarville Free Press,