The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1910-04-15
B|LBO is STILL
A LEGISLATOR
Senator Is Not Expelled and
He Will Not Resign
EXCITING SCENES OCCUR
Resolution to ExpeI BiIbo Fails BY a
Narrow Margin and Another Reso-
luton Is Passed Demanding
His Resignation

jackson, Miss, April 14.-Concluding
their afternoon session with the adoption
of a resolution sustaining State 4enator
Theodore Bilbo by a margin of one vote
the Mississippi senate late tonight adopt
ed another resolution demanding that Mr..
Bilbo tender his resignation and bitterly
crlticising his actions in connection with
his charge of Irregularities during the
recent senatorial contest.
Tonight's resolution declared that Bilbo,
although acting in the role of detective
by pre-arrangement with prominent
friends of former Governor Vardaman,
failed to disclose his evidence until after
the senatorial nomination, which conduct
the resolution declares ''is utterly unex-
planned and absolutely incredible"
The resolution attacks the credibility
and character of Senator Bilbo. 1t con-
demns his charge and statement that he
acted in the role of detective. In con-
clusion it declared Bbo unfit to retain
his membership in the Mississippi legis-
lature.
With the Introduction of the resolution
the storm broke. The president pro tenn
of the senate, who is an ardent support
er of Vardaman, left the chair and sur
rendered the gavel to Senator McLaurin
and joined a group of adheren.s of Mr..
Vardaman. who were forming to march
from the chamber in a.-body
The entire humber finally withdrew, and
by vote of 25 to 10 the resolution gas
adopted. Another resolution declaring it
the sense of the senate that the senatorial
contest was without improper influence;
that the election of Senator Percy was
free from fraud or corruption, and ex-
pressing confidence in the United States
senator was unanimously adopted.
Immediately attention was diverted to
the consideration of routine affairs, and
before Senator Bilbo had an opportunity
to speak on question of personal priv
ilege, which he announced was his inten-
ton, the senate adjourned tantil tomor-
row.
Senator Bilbo would make no statement
tonight as to his intention with regard to
the resolution.
BY margin of one vote short of the
required two-thirds majority, % to Is. the
Mississippi senate early tonight rejected
a resolution to expel Senator Theodore
Bilbo, who claims that he accepted a
bribe of $645 in exchange for his promise
to change his vote from former Gov
James X. Vardaman to United States Sem
ator Leroy Percy, during the recent SEN
sational contest. The acceptance of the
money, Bilbo explained, was to secure
evidence of Irregularities in connection
with the contest for the United States
seDatorship.
The vote came after an extended after
noon session of the upper branch of the
assembly, which, for the past several
weeks. has been investigating the charge
of Bilbo that he was offered q sum of
money by L. C. Dulaney, a prominent
planter and supporter of the successful
candidate, Leroy Percy. The vote was
strictly along partisan lines, practically
all of the Vardaman adherents in the
senate voting to sustain Bilbo.
The ballot, which was on a resolution
by Senator Leftwich, declaring that Bilbo
be expelled and that he is unworthy Of
belief followed the voting down by
decisive majorties of two substitute res
olutions, one dismissing the entire sub
ject matter and the other severely CEN
suring the state senator.
A recess until tonight Immediately fol-
lowed the vote on the Leftwich resolu-
tiOn.