Macon beacon. [volume] (Macon, Miss.) 1859-1995, 1910-12-16

HdES Uttu a. hpHiiiiaetSh ocSuiSH -
time-honored fashion Of the demo
cratic. party, and there would hav'
heard no wall from those who wer'
defeated
HOW THE SCANDLE WAS RAISED
THE LEGISLATIVE INvEsTI-
! CATION
When it was thought the Legisla'
ture was about to adjourn there
came rumor that this nomination
had been secured by improper means
It was first said that gubernatorial
patronage had been employed. What
is gubernatorial patronage? 1t Is the
filing by the governor of the Offices
created by the legislature. ] hold no
brief to defend Governor Noel. II
he used any Office to forward my can
iidacy. I am not aware of It. But
while the people of Mississippi have =
right TO criticize him II. he has APP
pointed unworthy or incompetent Of
ficers, 1t is no cause of criticism II be
failed to turn over the patronage Of
the State to Jim Vardaman, to for
ward his political ambition, When
you consider the ridicnIe and abuse
that Vardaman has heaped upon him
for the past two. years., for him to
have done SO would have made him
unworthy of the respect Of the peo-
pie of Mississippi But It was said
that money had been used to secure
this nomination. and when this re-;
port came to the Legislature they d.
termined to probe 1t to the bottom, to
spare neither time nor money, TO-
make an investigation which would
reach the truth. They realized that
they sat as a court, with the power
to summon witnesses and to put
them under oath and to subject them
to cross-examinatfon; that they could
as a court ascertain the facts and II
was their duty to do so, otherwise ir-
responsible men could give any YER.
sion Of 1t they saw fit to the people
OF Mississippi, who would never be
able to learn the real truth.
ExEMPLFTCATION OF "HUGGEp
OLD IsfLL STEGAr,L."
A better, exempliflcation Of the wis.,.
dom of the Legislature. in adopting
this course could not be, found than
Ks afforded by the campaign now be-
ing made over the State by Bill Ste
gall representative from Pontotoc !
presume he Is personally
known to but few OF you,a and I Ger |
tainly would not take Up my time or |
yours in discussing Etsgall but for !.
The fact that be is one OF that travel |
ing menagerie which is now going
around over the State OF Mississippi 4
in the interest OF James X. varda-,
man. He is endorsed by vaisianianI
In his paper as .'rugged old Bit Ets-
gall, 2 and 10 in fact the most decent
of that menagerie 1 snavsrs
referred to- him until Il went to Pom /
.otoc County where L was a stranger. 4
and he stood in the a,idienee sur I
by his friends! and what I'll
now say said then in his and their I
presence. In a speech at Winona.
5tegall said, "Dulaney came to me
and said on the last ballot vote for
Percy. and come immediately TO my
rooih j don't know what he meant
tut that IS what he said ~ Again
waxing bolder, he said. 'aAsl sure Sasa
he sun shines through the trees they
.ried to bribe me- This rs Whist
siegall said ON the stump. Here is
What he said under oath when testi-l
wing before the legislative investi-.
eating committee. Weeks after his
yote was cast, and he then knew ali
hat he knows now: \
q. Mr.. StegalL you are a repre-
sentative from Pontotoc County, y
N
A. 'Yes, sir.
@. Were You here during the
'ntire senatorial caucus?
A. eyes, sir
@. Supported Major vardaman.
believe, from first to lastg sn X
A. "Yes, sir; / supported Major
yardaman all the way through. II
@. Any attempt made to inter-
ere with your free will in voting In
hat contest? aa sS \,
A. "Oh, no.
Q. We're any propositions made
0 you or any improper Influences at
empted to be brought to bear to get
ou to vote against vardaman? Il