The Semi-weekly leader. (Brookhaven, Miss.) 1905-1941, 1910-01-22
why he VOTES FOR VARDAMAN.
State Senator Bush Defines Ills Position
to the Voters Of Ills District.

reason alone, do / make this state
ment.
In my capacity as Senator of the
eighth district, if be true to my
obligations and to my people, |
must vote for such men and such
measures as ! believe to be desired
by the majority Of the people Of
my district. In the race for
United States Senator during the
year 1907 the majority Of the peo-
l,ple of my district voted for Mr..
Vardaman against Mr.. Williams,
who was at that time unquestiona-
| bly, the strongest man in the State.
If the voters Of that district have
Irepudiated Mr.. Vardaman since
that time / have no way of knowing
lit. Therefore, / must be governed
by the last voice that have heard
from them. It is not a case of
personal preference only, but a
matter of principle. II | were op-
posed to Mr.. Vardaman personally,
/ would. as the representative of
| my district, vote for him.
In taking the stand that / have,
have gone directly against the
wishes of many of my warm per-
sonal friends, many of whom sup
ported NE ardently at the last cleo
tion, and who express d:sappoint-
ment that | should see fit to cast
my vote as | have. To them /
wish to say that it is not person
| al matter. 1t is not a matter be-
tween Mr.. Vardaman and my per
sonal friends, but a matter between
me and my duty to the majority of
the people that | represent. No
man should expect a friend in
public capacity to punish in a pub
lie way his personal enemies. My
duty as Legislator is not a matter
I of duty to my personal friends, but
to every man in my district owe
the same duty, whether he support
led me or not. / am not serving
friends only, but am serving, as
best / can, all the people that I
represent. Just here let me add
that before this campaign opened.
Mr.. Vardaman scarcely knew me
by sight; never asked favor of
him, nor was one ever granted to
me by him. | merely mention this
to show that personal friendship is
not influencing my actions one way
or another. To those who disagree
with me, i have no criticism to
offer. If you think that ! am do
ing wrong in a public way. you
have right to express it in pub
| lie way. If / ever ask to serve you
again you have perfect right to
repudiate me if you believe that /
have not served you in the best
way. I love my friends no less be
cause they do not agree with me.
and sincerely hope that all of them
are generous to that extent that
they will not let my action in this
matter interfere with our personal
friendship. As to what you may
think Of me in public light. is a
matter that / leave to your con-
sciences.
Furthermore. not man from my
district has ever asked me to vote
for any other than Mr.. Vardaman.
Some have requested that do not
vote for Mr.. Vardaman, but not a
man has ever named a candidate
for whom | should cast vote.
What else can / do but vote for
Mr.. Vardaman?
Everything that have done in
this behalf has been in the open
There is not one thing that have
to conceal II | am making a mis-
take in supp rting Mr. Vardaman,
| the majority of my people made
the same mistake at the last elec-
Ition IL am wise in my action.
that same majority taught me the
way. Before criticising me, first
| be sure that you know just what
Eyou have done under the same cir
Icumstances. As Tor my part,
Ehave acted conscientiouIsy in every
sense of the word IL Mr. Varda-
| man is elected | do not believe that
the people of my district will ever
| regret that / have taken the stand
that / have. If he is defeated,
shall bow to the will of the major
lity of the legislators and await the
verdict Of the people at the coming
election.
Yours very respectfully,
FRED M. BUSH.
In the light Of the facts he re.
cites. as we'll as on account Of the
! platform pledge and practice Of the
! Democratic party in recent years.
The Leader is sure Senator Bush
has the true conception Of his duty
to his. people as their representative
i lin the senatorial contest now pend.
ing at jackson, and the true con.
ception Of his duty as i Democrat
!. to his party. However conscien-
tious we may grant him to be, ths
Democrat who sets up his own IN
dividuaI judgment and choice