The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1910-04-18

in wonder can 1t be that sons of Mississ-
ippi have stained for political gain the
name of Mississippi.
Then came your investigation, the
most searching that legislature has
ever made, where neither time nor ex-
pense was spared. and then at the end
of 1t there Is left standing on the stage
q mark for the scorn and contempt oil
all honest men (applause) only one fig
urea characterless man, a self-con-
fessed liar. a self-accused bribe-taker ,
and his only ally a poor, broken down
shameless woman of the streets Ev-
cry reputable witness named in corrob
Grafton had shrunk back affrighted as
if from contamination by touching this
moral leper. tApplause.) And high
above the pit of shame. as star in the
sky. floats the honor of Mississippi,
above the reach of the hands that
would drag it down for political gain.
No Stain ON His Honor
your investigation has shown to the
world that no stain rests upon the COM
mission that you have given to me; no
suspicion of reproach upon the integ-
rity of the legislature of the state of
Mississippi or upon single one of the
81 votes that were cast in my favor.
tApplause.)
"I know that the commission was
fairly won; the legislature of the state
of Mississippi knows that the commits
sion was honestly won: the people of
the state of Mississippi know that that
commission was fairly won (applausel
and yet broadcast over the land has
been spread the poison by which 1t is
hoped to close the ears of reason among
the people of the state of Mississippi.
They have been told that through the
secret caucus, dsregarding the fact
that every senator that ever represent
ed the state of Mississippi, sent from
legislative hall, was sent by secret
caucus. that through the secret caucus
the will of the people of the state OF
Mississippi has been thwarted and the
expression of their choice been pre-
vented.
IT deny that. say that the same
reasons that made the legislature of the
state of Mississippi repudiate Varda-
manism make the people or the state OF
Mississippi willing and DESTROYS of re-
pudiating Vardamanism because they
are weary of senseless agitation and
strife-br breeding tapplause); and l say l
am prepared to maintain that before
the people of the state, and say fur-
tn ermore that am anxious for the OPP
portunity of maintaining 1t and assert
ing 1t at the earliest moment before
the people of my state. (Applause.)
No ONCE without Honor
mo man prizes more highly the
honor of representing Mississippi In the
Senate of the United States than l do.
But 1t is only because l believe l can
work for the welfare OF the state, ana
1t is only because I have dhe trust and
confidence of the people of the state
of Mississippi behind me; and when
ever l find that I have not that trust
I 1nn prar
to serve the people III official capacity.
Every dictate of patriotism calls for
an early settlement of this senatorial
question by the people of Mississippi. IL
is not for the welfare of Mississippi that
this f1ght which promises to be bitter
fight shall be a long drawn out fight, ar
raying the good people of this state In
hostile camps against each other along
fractional lines which it will take genera
lions to obliterate and to efface What
ever advantage in this fight might come
to me personally, through delay, naught
but harm could come to the welfare of
NV state. And never shall it be said my
personal fortunes weighed aught with me
In the scales against my states we'll
being. (Applause).
~ want to say that instead of wanting
this primary to come off in August, 1911,
I invite and challenge Mr.. VardaaaE TO
cooperate with me ana nave .nis pr
mary come on IN November, lslV' zap
plause continued).
.sFor 15 years vardaman has sung the
song of the officeseeker to the people of
Mississippi and he is familiar with every
nook and corner of the state and naught
can come to him by longer canvass.
II am unknown to thousands of the peo-
pie Of Mississippi. but / am prepared to
60 before that people and defend the in
teRrity and honor of the legislature of the
state Of Mississippi repeated appiause)'
ana to vindicate their intelligence when
they said that the people of the state are
weary of vardamanism.
why He Delayed Coming
at would have been before the legis-
lature at an earlier date and made this
proposition when 1t could haYe been
framed into legislation, as can be done