The Semi-weekly leader. (Brookhaven, Miss.) 1905-1941, 1910-02-02
GAN OPEN LETTER.
Jackson. Jan. %. 1910.


in jackson since the Legislature
met because of the interest felt in
the prohibition cause and the pend
ing senatorial contest. Considera-
BILE has been said IN the press just
before and since the Legislature
convened to the effect that the Ma
tional Liquor Dealers Association,
through some of its secret repre-
sentatives, would be on the ground
to oppose any effort for constitu-
tional prohibition made at this ses-
sion, and also do all possible to se-
cure the election of man to the
United States Senate the least like
ly to be inimical to the whisky in
terests. Some of the men seen
here on former occasions when work
was to be done for the liquor inter-
ests have been observed about the
hotel lobbies and it is safe guess
that this is their business in jack
son at this time.
l have before, in correspondence
or editorials in The Leader, refer
red to some of the features of the
senatorial contest. In one very
important respect, the list Of sena-
torial candidates is unique in Mis-
sissippi, in that two of the number,
Ex-Gov. Vardaman and Hon. G. II.
Alexander, are pronounced, OUT
spoken prohibitionists, with an
honorable record behind them on
this subject. and both members of
the present State Prohibition Ex-
ecutive Committee, Mr.. Alexander
being chairman. Howsoever, the
National Liquor Dealers Associa-
tion and other opponents of prohi-
bition might regard the election
of any of the other gentlemen in
the contest, it is certain that they
would be very greatly displeased at
the success of either Vardaman or
Alexander.
Ever since the day the Legisla-
ture convened, there has been an
undercurrent of talk that good
deal of liquor is being used here
by either some of the senatorial
candidates themselves or their
friends, to influence the senatorial
election. About two weeks ago, l
received from a prominent and
widely known preacher of jackson,
who knew | was here, the follow
ing note, written from Shreveport:
Dear Brother Hobbs: AS left
Jackson yesterday, it was freely
talked at the depot that more than
one candidate was receiving whisky
by the hundreds of gallons with
which to corrupt the way to the
United States Senate. Look into
it and expose the shameful, dis
graceful thing regardless of who
it may be. / saw enough, myself,
to know that there is something in
the report. Hastily,
"W. P. PRICE.
Two or three days after / receiy-
ed this letter, in conversation at
the Edwards House with Represents
atiye M. Mccullough. Of Lincoln
county, he volunteered the inforrna-
tion that he had good reason to be-
Iieve that whisky was being used iii
the interest of one or more of the
senatorial candidates. and request
ed me to make what investigation
! could Of the truthfulness Of these
reports and let him know the re.
suit, which ! promised to do.
All Of the senatorial candidates,
except Vardaman. have had their
headquarters at the Edwards House
and here they and their friends
have been accustomed to meet and
caucus from day to day. The Var
daman headquarters have been just
across Capitol Street opposite the
Edwards House in rooms Of the old
Lawrence House.
During my visits here. have
stopped at the Edwards and have
been about the lobby and various
parts Of the Edwards House good
deal and also around the Vardamar
head quarters On The opposite sidf
Of the street There Is no doubt
but that the friends Of some of tht
candidates have had liquor at theil
disposal and were ready to share il
with members Of the Legislature
whenever they could find menberl
bibulously inclined There hal
been q eraat deal of drinking b
this Kind going On around the Ed