The Birmingham age-herald., 1911-12-13

Washington. December 12,-(special) Senator LeRoy Percy's speech on the floor of the Senate today in denuncia- tion of undertaking charges made in a magazine of recent date was one of the most scathing and sensational ad- dresses of the kind that has been de- livered in this body for many day
 A good part of the arraignment was directed to Senator Elect Vardaman who, it is claimed, approved and sane toned the article in question. MT, Percy showed that all the charges of fraud alleged in the article had been declared as untrue by the state legis- lature of Mississippi and state courts where the charges had been fully in vestigated before the article was writ ten. The senator read into the record an fndorsement of the said article written by MT. Vardaman and then pro- ceeded to denounce Vardaman more bitterly than he had denounced the magazine and it's alleged slander.
 Practically every member of the Sen ate was in his seat and the galleries were well filled. the speech having been announced several days In advance. Though MT. Percy talked for more than one hour absolute quiet was maintained. In fact the quiet was so intense that the breathing of the audience was plainly audible.
 Governor Noel of Mississippi had a seat on the floor of the Senate and was among the first to congratulate Senator Percy at the close of his address.
 senator Percy rose to point of personal privilege. He also bitterly attacked William Randolph Hearst, whom he said owned the magazine inspiring the article, and former Governor Vardaman, nomi- mated by the Mississippi democratic pri- mary to succeed himself (Percy).
 The senator challenged MT. Vardaman to ask for an investigation of the cleo ton in which he (Percy was named. If Vardaman will advise me that the votes cast for me were improperly influenced in my behalf and he desires an investigation by the United States Senate, l, in his behalf, will introduce a resolution re- questing such an investigation and urge it's favorable consideration MT. Percy said.
 The senator said that he would urge an
 inquiry if one was asked for by the Mis- sissippi legislature, which, he declared had ridden into office by the same tidal wave that had nominated Vardaman.
 Tongue flashing Vardaman with vituper ation, Senator Percy declared the for mer governor was now defendant in a suit filed by the attorney general of Mis- sssippi charging embezzlement of trust funds. He also vitriologically referred to unconventional remarks about President Taft and former President Roosevelt, ac- credited to the former governor.
 MT. Hearst was characterized "a statesman without record; mendacious muckraker without a peer" and whose bitter malignant and incendiary utter ances otherwise caused him to be held by the country morally responsible for the shots fired into the body of William Me- Kinley."
 Every allegation of corruption men tioned in the magazine article the sen ator alleged had been probed by the courts or legislature of Mississippi and found wanting in fact. .sstss+f-
 In the face of the wide publicity given the charges and the avid and gloating indorsement by the senator elect from Mississippi" MT. Percy said he could not, as had been announced, carry out his intention of presenting his resignation as senator to the state legislature next month
 Senator Percy declared that every honest man in public life called upon to| make answer to calumny and islander in the public press must experience not only bitter indignation but helpless ness rom the knOWleuSe tIldl tHe Ter futation rarely overtakes the original statement He referred to Mississippi as the state whose politics have been singularly free from any corruption by money or domination by improper i'm fluences Her people, he said, had sent to Congress many men the nation called great and never one whose official honesty and loyalty has ever been ques- tioned by his bitterest enemies. He declared in the face of the defamation. of proud state silence on his part might not be understood. that while my state has crowned me with no laurel wreath of victory, but put on me the curse of defeat, it shall never lp said that I remained silent when her honor was in peril'
 MT, Percy said his personal belief that MT. Vardaman's utterances regard ing President Taft and former Piesi-. dent Roosevelt impaired, if not de- stroyed, the latter's power to serve the people of Mississippi in the Senate of the United States. He said he differed radically with MT Vardaman regarding the best methods of handling the race question, Mr. Vardaman contending for the repeal of the fifteenth amendmene and modification of the fourteenth amendment to the constitution as the