The Neshoba Democrat., 1910-04-28
TWO REPORTS on BRIBERY
MAJORITY SAYS PERCY WAS HON.
ORABLY AND FAIRLY ELECTED.
Minority Says Whisky, Patronage and
Undue Influence Were Used to Defeat
Vardaman.

|
Holmes of the probing committee pre-
sented the following majority report:
I'VE have examined siXty-seven wit
nesses, and all the testimony, including
questions and answers, is now being
Transcribed by the stenographers and
will be published, as heretofore provided
for by resolution of this house. In the
examination of witnesses we have spared
no time or expense in trying to arrive at
the truth, bringing witnesses here from
all parts of the state and running down
each rumor that came to our knowledge
and examined every witness that we had
any knowledge of whom was supposed to
know, or even if it were rumored that he
knew, any facts that would aid us in our
| investigation.
After what we believe to be a full
and thorough investigation, we have
been unable to find any evidence of a
single instance where the vote of MEM
Der was corruptly influenced, and because
thereof voted for some candidate other
than his own choice.
"ln the opinion of your committee,
Senator Leroy Percy was fairly and
honorably nominated by the Democratic
caucus. Respectfully submitted,
'HERBERT HOLMES, Chairman.
"Nan b. BODlE.
"M. P. FOY."
Minority Report.
The minority report, prepared BY
Mcssrs. A. c. Anderson and Lee NJ.
Russell, was as follows:
I'VE, the undersigned members of the
house investigation committee under the
toy resolution of March 10, 1910, beg
leave to submit the following minority
report:
I'VE preferred that our committee sub
nit to you the full and complete tran
scrlbcd notes of the stcnographer with
out comment, for the reason that each
OF you and each citizen of the state is
fully competent to draw his own con-
clusions from the testimony.
1--WE take it that if you desire a re-
port at all you wish only that we pre-
sent to you in the concise form the ma
terial things brought out in the inves.
tigation. There is too much evidence
to go into detail as to it all. We sub.
NIT some of the most important as we
view it,
"First-We believe that undue inhu-
ence by the improper use of liquor was
used upon at least one member of the
house. This member was changed from
his original conviction, and, being un.
fortunately addicted to the use of strong
drink, was by this improper Influence
overpersuaded to vote against his real
convictions.
"Second-l'hc evidence shows further.
that in the other instances other mem.
bers OF the legislature were approached
and asked if money or political position
would persuade them to change their
vote, and this, as we believe, was very
improper.
lhlrd-Even the patronage of the
federal government is shown to have
oeen brought into play and used in the
caucus. We say, however, that we have
no evidence that any federal official
knew that such was being done.
fourth-We submit that the execu-
1--WE patronage of Mississippi was used
with telling effect We do not mean bv
this statement that our chief eyecutivo
promised any office to any person to
influence any vote; there is no evidence
OF That. But we do say that the GOV.
efhor conferred and advised continuallv
and this was well known to every mem.
Der OF the caucus, with all the .opposi
sition' candidates, their friends and
members OF the caucuses to the best
methods to solidify the Opposition and
10 persuade some members supporting
eS-uov. Vardaman to change their votes.
was highly improper In view of the
well-known fact that Gov. Noel. os
stated in his evidence before the com.
mlttee, and in his public utterance. that
all things being about equal he would
appoint his friends, we believe from tho
evidence submitted that under the in.
tense state OF feeling that existed
throughout the caucus this state of af.
,"'rs had strong tendency to prevent
freedom i'll casting the ballot.
flfth-Ihc evidence shows also that
some men during the caucus ,nonood
their votes. Their explanations therefor
are III evidence, and while we do NOT i'm
pugn their motives, we call your atten-
tlon to their testimony.
Seventh-Whisky was used exces.
slvely during the caucus, but there is no
proof that any iEtoxicants were dis
pensed in the headquarters of anv of the
candidates. LEE M. RUSSELL.
"A. c. ANDERSON"