Macon beacon. [volume] (Macon, Miss.) 1859-1995, 1910-04-22
Senator Rercy's Speech.


And high above the pit of shame
as star in the sky floats the hon
or of Mississippi above the reach
of the hands of those who would
drag it down for political gain.
''Your investigation has shown
to the world that no stain rests
upon the commission that you
have given me; suspicion or re-
prOach upon the Integrity of the
Legislature Of the State of Miss
issippi or npOn a single one of the
eighty seven votes that were cast
i'll my favor (applause).
COMMISSION FAIRLY WON.
~ know that that commission
was fairly won and the LeRisla-
ture of the State of Mississippi
knows that that commission was
honestly won; the people of the
State Of Mississippi know that
that commission was fairly won
(applause). And yet broadcast
over the land has been spread the
story by which it is hoped to close
the ears Of reason among the peO-
pie of the State of Mississippi.
They have been told that, through
the secret caucus, disregarding
the fact that every Senator, that
ever represented the State of
Mississippi, sent from Legisla-
tive hall, was sent by a 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 has been prevented.
'I deny that. | say that the
same reasons that made the Leg
! islature of the State of Mississippi
repudiate Vardaman makes the
people of the State of Mississippi
willing and desirOus of repudiat-
ing Vardaman because they are
weary of the senseless agitation
and strife brooding (applauSe); !;
and say am prepared to main
tain that before the people Of the
State, and I say, furthermore,
that l am anxious for the oppor-
tunity of maintaining it and as
serting it at the earliest moment
before the people of my State Gap
plause.)
| WANTS EARLY PRIMARY
f'NO man prizes more highly
the honor of representing Miss
issippi in the Senate of the United
States than / do, and it is an hon
or because I believe l can work
for the welfare o. the State, and it
is an honor because | believe that
| have the trust and confidence of
the people Of the State of Miss
issippi behind me.
"Whenever / find that / have
not that trust and confidence,
| then / no longer desire to serve
the people in an official capacity.
Every dictate of patriotism calls
! for an early settlement Of this
senatorial question by the people
of Mississippi. Tt is not for the
welfare Of Mississippi that this
fight, which promises to be a bit
ter fight, shall be long drawn out,
arraying the good people in hos
tile camps against each other
along lines, which it will take
generations to obliterate and to
efface.
"Whatever advantage in this
fight might come to me personal
ly through delay, naught but
harm could come to the welfare of
my State through a protracted
campaign, and never shall it be
said that my personal fortunes
weigh aught in the scale against
my States well being.
''I want to say that instead Of
making this primary come off in
August, 1911, I invite and chal-
lenge Mr.. Vardaman to cO-ope-
rate with me and have this pri-
mary come off in November of the
present year.
GOES AFTER VARDAMAN.
"For fifteen years Vardaman
has sung the song of the office
seeker to the people of hiSSiSSip-
pi, and he is familiar with every
nook and corner of the State, and
naught can come to him by a long
er canvass. / am unknown to
thousands of the people of Miss
issippi, but l am prepared to go
before that people and defend the
integrity and honor of the Legis-
lature of the State of Mississippi
! repeated applause) and to vindi-
cate their intelligence when they
said that the people of the State
are weary of Vardaman. zap
plause. / would have been be-