The Hattiesburg news. (Hattiesburg, Miss.) 1908-1917, 1908-06-16
a candidate for congress; that he had
nothing to do with the railroad.


nothing to do with the railroad.
Mr.. Bowers stated that there was
one matter that he felt he ought to
mention and that was that Mr.. Barber
had stated at Prentiss that he had a
document by which he could prove
that he, Bowers, had not represented
his constituency. He stated that he
had received letter from Mr.. Barber
inviting him to speak in Hattiesburg
and in reply thereto, he had told Mr..
Barber that he thought the appoint
ment was his but that he was willing
to let him call it his appointment, but
he wanted that document produced in
Hattiesburg and hoped that he would
have it here; that he was not ashamed
of anything that he had done and he
called for the production of the arti-
Gle, as Mr.. Barber had failed to meet
him in Gulfport as he expected and
had failed to furnish him with the
document that he claimed to have
od'pct hSJoiHuSTs
| Mr.. Barber. then took the stand for
twenty minutes reply and among
other things he said that he had not
been to Gulfport because his wife had
been seriously sick at Rawls Springs.
He then stated that he would meet Mr..
Bowers at 2 o'clock next Monday at
Gulfport and if the document he had
did not prove that Mr.. Bowers had not
faithfully represented the interest of
his district that he would withdraw
from the race. Mr.. Barber reiterated
his charge that Mr.. Bowers was the
candidate of the Gulf and Ship Island
Railroad.
John r. TalIey Comes in.
In the course of Mr.. Bowers speech
he asked Mr. Talley to verify state
ment that he had made and Mr.Tal-
ley told Mr.. Bowers that he was cor
rect. Mr.. Barber in his rejoinder said
that he didn't know that Mr.. Talley
was assistant congressman and then
Mr.. Talley jumped to his feet to reply
and challenged Mr.. Barber to meet
him on the stump. Mr. Barber replied
that he would meet him any time, any
where, but qualified the statement by
saying when you are a candidate for
congress-"
Bowers Denounces.
AT the conclusion of Mr.. BARRIERS
rejoinder, Congressman Bowers went
to the stand and said that he de-
nounced as willfullyl and maliciously
false any statement that reflected on
his character or any statement that he
had changed or falsified the records.
At this Mr.. Barber reached for a GUS
pidor and number of friends rushed
to him and grabbed him before he
could break away and reach Mr.. Bow
ers. For several minutes there ap-
peared to be danger of trouble. Mr..
BARRIERS 13 year old son, who was in
the audience rushed to his father to
keep him back, but ready to stand by
him in case of trouble.
Mr.. Bowers then stated that this
concluded all joint debates so far as
he was concerned.
Mr.. Talley then took the stand and
began to speak when Mr.. Barber inter-
rupted him to say that he desired to
apologize for the reference that had
been made to him; that he did not
mean anything offensive. This seemed
to be at least partly satisfactory to Mr..
Talley and he left the stand without
making a speech.
During the speech of Mr.. Bowers he
explained that congressional records
were not always complete for the one
day for which they were published,
but matter was often carried over to
the next day. Mr.. Barber in his re-
ply stated what his congressional rec
ord showed and said that he didn't I'M
derstand how such differences could
exist unless congressman got printers
to change the copy. This statement
was one of the causes of the row that
followed, especially when it and other
statements were denounced as will
fully and maliciously false" by Mr..
Bowers.
Both candidates received a great
deal of applause and the speaking was
attended by large crowd.