The Hattiesburg news. (Hattiesburg, Miss.) 1908-1917, 1910-04-19
The Senatorial Primary

1t Is fortunate for the peace and
fdignity of Mississippi; it is for the
Vbest interest of the Democratic party
lin this state, and for the good of the
business interests, that the senatorial
primary 10 elect a successor to the
Slate Senator McLaurin, should be held
this year instead of next and, honor
to whom honor is due, it is greatly to
the credit of Senator Percy that he
Y Vardaman and Vardamanism was a
trifie stacy, and his eyes seemed to
s be glued to the gallery; nevertheless,
ASenator Percy played an honorable
and courageous part when he de-
clared that he did not wish to hold
any office tainted with any suspicion
4 OF bribery or corruption. That was
an honorable, a brave and a manly
+ thing to do; and whether his sena-
torial life be long or short, Leroy
r Percy the man, has washed his hands
( of any dishonor that may attach to
the bribery deals between Bilbo and
s Dulaney, or any other transaction that
could besmirch his good name; which,
after all is more to be desired than
great riches or high position.
When the campaign for the sena-
torial toga opens between these two
distinguished sons of Mississippi, The
i News sincerely hopes that they, both
OF them, will discuss political policies
and principles. and not each other.
We cannot believe that Mr.. Varda-
man is as bad man as his enemies
paint him to be, else he would not
have so many friends among so many
good men. We cannot believe Sena-
a tor Percy Is the naughty, proud, die
tatorial, railroad attorney, with gen.
eral retainer for the whiskey interests
in his pockets, else he would not
3 have received the vote and support
of so many tried and true friends of
temperance in the legislature. There
must be some good in both these men,
and not so much of bad or they
would not command the following
they have in Mississippi.
The issues the people are inter
ested in are not of personal charac-
ter. Gov. Vardaman is a lifelong
promoter of temperance legislation.
The National Wholesale Liquor Deal
erss Association of America, is
against him. They do not want any
man to have a chair and a vote
and the right to be heard in the
United States Senate who thinks as
Gov Vardaman does upon this ques-
ton, and who from long usage has
mind. They are for "anybody-to-beat
Vardaman" That may raise an issue
Senator Percy may not be in the en-
ploy of the Liquor Dealers: and we
are quite sure he would not accept
any retainer money from them after
he becomes senator, or in any way
submit to their befouling <touch. At
i the same time, he may think as they
think along the subject of temper
ance legislation. Some good men do
God only knows how they can; but
1t is fact,-an uncontrovertible fact
that some good men do think, con-
scientiously, just as the whiskey men
think on this subject They think
that prohibition does not prohibit"
that Temptation resisted makes men
strong" that "this will become ma
ton of mollycoddles If the fanatics
keep on having their way and pass
ing slmptuary laws" They are dead
wrong, Of course; but when a good
man gets dead wrong he is the dead
est sort of dead wronger, because
be is conscientious about it. One Of
these small bribe-givers or bribe-
takers when he thinks on one side of
any question. always reserves another
think, ii 1t appears to his financial or
political interest to change. But a
geod man, unconsciously wrong, us
pally stays wrong.
A. - there may be- an issue for
r|p e decide. not upon the