The Grenada sentinel. [volume] (Grenada, Miss.) 1868-1955, 1910-12-16

& ucdIO III wall AlObi 81 ~
defeated.
HOW THE SCANDLE WAS RAISED,
! THE LEGISLATIVE INvEsT1-
CATION
When it was thought the Legisla-
ture was about to adjourn. there
came a 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 tho offices
created by the legislature. hold no
brief to defend Governor Noel. II
he used any Office to forward my can
didacy. I am not aware Of II. But
while the people of Mississippi have 4
fight TO criticize him II he has ap-
poiAted unworthy or Incompetent Of
acsrs. It is no cause of criticism II he
failed to turn over the patronage OF
the State to Jim VardamaR to for
ward his political ambitios. Whsn
you consider the ridicule and abuse
that vardaman has heaped upon him
for tho 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
J tAaA h1A kaAn ,ynA - cap1vn
this nomination. and when this re-
wort anne 70 the Legislature they de-
termined to probe 4 to the bottom, ~
/ 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 crossexamination; that they could
az 70 court ascertain the facts and it
was their duty to do SO. otherwise ir-
responsible men could give any yer
sion of It they saw At to the people
OF Mississippi. who would neve be
able to learn the real truth.
DISQUALIFICATION OF "RUGGED
OLD BILL STEGALL."
A better exemplifcation OF the wis
dom Of the Legislature In adopting
this course could not be found thar
il afforded by the campaign now be
ing made over the State by Bill Ste
gall, representative from Pontotoc
County. I presume he is personally
known to but few of you. and I Ger
tainfy would not take Up ny time or
yours in discussing Stegall but for
the fact that ne Is one Of that travel
Ing menagerie which Is now going
around over the State of Mississippi
IN the interest Of James X varda-
man. He Is endorsed by Vardaman
In hts paper as rugged Old Bill Sta
gall" and is in fact the most decent
member of that menagerie. I never
referred to him until I went to Pom
tVtcS SOQuSy NHcIc L Wdo ii 6tIduHCI
and he stood in the audience sur
!, rounded by his friends. and what
now say I said then In his and their
presence. In a speech at W1nona,
Stegall said. "Dulaney came to me
and said on the last ballot vote for
Percy. and come Immediately to my
room. | don't know what he meant
but that Is what he said" Again
; waxing bolder. he said. "As sure as
the sun shines through the trees they
: tried to bribe me-" This Is wis,
, Stegali said on the stump. Here 4
what he said under oath when testi
= flying before the legislative lnvesti'
= eating committee. Weeks after his
vote was cast, and he then knew al
!; that he knows now:
@. "Mr. Stegall. you are a repre-
sentative from Pontotoc County,
believe?
A. Eyes, sir.
@. Were you here during thu
= entire senatorial caucus?
A. Yes, sir.
I @. Supported Major Vardaman
I believe, from first to last?
A. Eyes, sir; I supported Majol
vardaman all the way through.
@. ANY attempt made to inter
fere with your free will in voting II
that contest?
A. "Oh, no.
} @. Were any propositions mad
to you or any improper influences at
tempted to be brought to bear to &c
you to vote against Vardaman?
A. "No; no propositions eve,
limited even.
Q. did you ever talk to Mr.. D1