Oxford eagle. (Oxford, Lafayette Co., Miss.) 1876-current, 1910-08-04
An Explanation.

/ Not Like BilbO. vhlch sppear-
ed in the Commercial Appeal Of
today, we desire to say that your
reporter did not give the facts as
they existed and in view of fair
play we ask that you publish this
statement. We desire to say that
this report is false and without
foundation in fact. In the first
place there was a much larger
crowd than reported being at
least 1900 people instead Of the
100 as reported. and instead OF
being "a good proportion of them
undoubtedly anti Bilto" the fact
SIS that il there was a woman or
child who was there who was not
convinced that ne was telling the
truth the undersigned after in
vestigatlUn, have failed to find
them; certainly they kept exceed
ingly quiet about il. In the next
place no speaker ever received
greater applause throughout his
entire speech than was accorded
him; his speech was one contin, i.
al round OF applause from begin
ming TO end and the audience con
sisted of the representative men
and women Of this county. Not
only this, but there were many
men from other counties present
and they too joined in the ap.
plause. Senator Bilbo was greet
ed by hundreds who told him they
were glad that he had the honor
and courage 60 let the world know
the dirty work OF the recent sena-
toris1 caucus.
Senator Bilbo's speech was fair.
straightforward, eloquent and
overwhelmingly convincing; he
unfolded the work OF the caucus
in full and explained his part TO
the entire satisfaction of every
man present. In fact there were
several men who went there pre-
JUDGED against the senator and
when he had closed his speech
they went to him and shook his
hand and told him they were FULLY
convinced that he was telling tn,
facts as they really existed. Sena
tor bIibo's denunciation Of the
methods used by Percy, Alexan-
der, Gov. Noel and the rest in
their secret combice to defea,
James n. Nardaman for the Sem
ate, met with the full and enthusi
astic approval of the entire audi
ence as was evidenced by the APP
Plause when these topics were
discussed.
Senator Bilbo's speech was
along the usual lines wherein he
stated he WAS willing to meet aay
man or set OF men upon the stump
and challenged them to disprove
his statements.
In reference to every person
who had said anything against
him his references to them were
7anly and highly dignified but
severe, clear-cut and to the point.
In answer to Mr.. Percy's state
ment that he would not meet in
joint debate with him for the rea-
son that Bilbo's character was
bad. Senator Bilbo asked that
the people ask Percy il he( Percy)
was ever drunk, if he ever was
convicted of gambling, if he did
not violate the Sabbath by hunt
ing and fishing, if he did not rep
resent the liquor interests of Mis-
slssippi, and was Tor whisky I'M
I'll the prohibition law went into
effect. if he did not represent a
negro lodge as against the white
lodge, if he had not deserted the
Democratic party in the time o
trouble, and then asked that thew
take us his (Biloo's) private life
and see what they could find.
The speaker was anxious for this
comparison.
After the speaking was over at
the camp ground meeting was
arranged at the court honse at S
O'Clock. \ big crowd greeted
him there and ne was given the
usual undivided attention and
was loudly appiauded by the en-.
tire audience throughout a two
hour speech. In justice to every
one 1t should be said that no
speaker At no time nor place ever
made better impression, ever
received more cordial applause
and ever Went away with his audi
ence more completely convinced
that Senator Biibo had told the
truth on them. Any report to the
contrary is not warranted by the
facts. The people who read YOUR
papers everywhere are entitled To
the facts as they are. We give
them to you and ask that in fair.
ness You publish this report.
This report was hurriedlygotten
up and signed by about 80 of our
best citizens. We can get 1000
names on pit with justa little more
tune. We fully understand now
why the Hon. Leroy Percy will
not meet him in joint debate.
Respectfully,
NINETY CITIZENS.
Conner Happeninss