The Tupelo journal., 1911-06-16


body guard, apparently ready for any
personal difficulty that might come his
way. Finally DR.. Ward was Quoted
and seated. Still the Vardaman crowd
yelled and seethed, sweated and sizzled
and those who were there to hear q
speech awaited the pleasure Of those
who, it is rumored, had said there
should be lone.
AS o as Allen was permitted to
proceed, which was after all intermis-
sion of about a half an hour, he drew
himself on his tiptoes and said:
II have always taken pride in the
kind Of crowd l have been affiliated
with, and l hope and / know there are
no such hoodlums and outlaws in the
crowd l am with today. Pointing to
an individual who persisted in making
the unnecessary confession that he
was a red neck, Allen said, why we
have catfish in the hatchery that have
more sense than some of you."
Then he read the editorial from the
paper which said that if Vardaman
had stolen the Lords supper and wiped
his mouth on the table cloth, the peo-
pie would still be for him, and again he
was yelled down. Somebody wanted
him to tell about the poker game in
Jackson during the caucus, at which he
lost some money. He went over that
delectation, and her someone wanted
to know about a fraud in connection
with the fish hatchery at Tupelo, and
challenged him to show his vouchers.
Allen said he had a letter from a fool
by the name of C. W. Sledge, of Duck
Hill, III this city, who wanted to know
if it was a fact that he got $40, 600. 90
from which to build the fish hatchery
and used only S $4,000.
Allen Finds Pass.
He told of going to G~ulfport, and
while in Judge Nevill's office. and find
ing pass number 1854, which he carried
with him to Jackson. He described
how quiet the Vardaman people were
until the rumor was circulated that the
pass was lost, and then how Vardaman
denounced the report as a lie. Then
the pass was resurected and reproduced
and he announced we have it with US
today, and that instant, j.. T. Buckley
dramatically pulled it from his inside
coat pocket.
Judge Blount began his speech with
out serious interference and strongly
backed by about fifty or seventy five
who had contributed much already to
the festivities of the occasion. He
sailed into the report of the committee
regarding the contingent fund of Gov.
Vardaman, which he declared was On
ceived in sin, brought forth in iniquity
and gotten up for political purposes.
The anti Vardamanites rebelled at
this point, already feeling keenly the
insult to Allen by the Vardaman crowd
and during the interruptions Hill, the
presiding officer, attempted to quiet
the crowd. The continual interrupt
ions of Judge Blount had pricked him,
and turning to him he said something
to the effect that he was able to take
care of Them. This did not have the
effect of quoting anybody, however,
and when there was a lull in noise, Hill,
flushed with anger, said:
II was trying to show you a little
courtesy, but if you don't want it l
will withdraw my request"
Walter McClain thought he could still
the troubled waters. but he soon gave
up In despair. and when he gave up,
Hill took another turn at it, and said
that he was endeayoring to preserve
order and preside impartially. but
since the speaker has reflected on me
don't care what becomes of the meet
ing now
The crowd construed this as an invi-
tation to go as far as it liked, and there
were some yells emitted that would put
a coyote to shame. They were not
notable alone because of their loudness
but also for their endurance. One fell
low said afterwards that he yelled six
minutes straight without taking a
breath. Some one suggested that
Blount apologize to Hill fer his seem
ing discourtesy. The crowd had begun
to leave. A number of ladies saw no
opportunity to hear a speech and gave
up their seats for the men to stand on.
Tried Break Up Debate.
Finally Judge Blount was able to
make himself understood, and he said
that he understood that the crowd was
demanding an apology to Hill. He
said if it would restore quiet, he would
get on his knees, and some of the
crowd took the que and threatened to
yell until he got on his knees, but Hill
persuaded them finally that he was