The Tupelo journal., 1910-04-22
reach of the hands that would
drag it down for political gain.

4 q
| Your investigation has shown
to the world that no stain rests
upon the commission that you
have given to me; no suspicion
of reproach upon the integrity Of
the state of Mississippi or upon a
single one Of the eighty seven
votes that were cast in my ia
vo.. (Applause.)
Il know that that commission
was fairly won; the legislature
of the state of Mississippi knows
that commission was honestly
won; the people of Mississippi
know that that commission was
fairly won (applause,) and yet
broadcast over the land has been
spread the poison by which it is
hoped to close the ears of reason
among the people of the state of
Mississippi. They have been told
that through the secret caucus,
disregarding the facts that every
senator that ever represented
Mississippi, sent from a legisla-
tive hall, was sent by secret
caucus. that through the secret
caucus the will of the people of
the state Of Mississippi has been
thwarted and the expression of
their choice been prevented.
Il deny that. | say that the
same reasons that made the leg
islature of Mississippi repudiate
Vardamanism make the people
of the state of Mississippi will
ing and desirous of repudiating
Vardamanism because they are
weary of the senseless agitation
and strife-breeding (applause);
and | say | am prepared to main
tain that before the people of
the state, and | say, further
more, that | am anxious for the
opportunity of maintaining it
and asserting it at the earliest
moment before the people Of my
state. applause.
mo man prizes more highly
| the honor of representing Mis-
tsissippi in the senate of the
| United States than | do. But, it
is only because | believe | can
work for the welfare of the
state, and it is only because that
| | have the trust and confidence
of the people OF the state of Mis-
sissippi behind me (applause, }
and whenever | find that | have
not that trust and confidence,
! then | have no desire to serve
the people in official capacity.
Every dictate of patriotism
calls for an early settlement Of
this senatorial question by the
people OF Mississippi. 1t is not
for the welfare of Mississippi
that this fight, which promises
to be a bitter fight, shall be a
long drawn out fight, arraying
the good people of this state ir
hostile camps against each other,
along factional lines which it viii
take generations to obliterate
and to efface. Whatever ad-
vantage in this fight might come
to me personally, through delay
} naught but harm could come tt
the welfare of my state. Anf
never shall it be said my persona
fortunes weighed aught with MI
in the scales against my states
wellbeing. (Applause.)
Il want to say that instead 0.
) wanting this primary to come
! off in August, 1911, | invite anc
challenge Mr.. Vardaman to co
) operate with me and have thi
primary come off in November
1910. applause continued.)
: For fifteen years Vardamal
: has sung the song of the Office
! seeker to the people Of Mississip
pi and he is familiar with ever.
: nook and corner of the state an,
J naught can come to him by
e longer canvass.
$ Il an unknown to thousand
of the people of Mississippi, bu
: / am prepared to go before tha
j people, and defend the integrit
: and honor of the legislature 0
:, the state of Mississippi (repeate
/ applause,) and to vindicate thei
, intelligence when they said tha
!, tbn poopla IF fho cta+n aro uynor