The Tupelo journal., 1911-07-14
Caucus
Was Fair
eaker Of Mississippi Legislature
Gives Out Statement.

jackson, Miss, June 2T. SO much
wing been said in criticism of the
gislative caucus which resulted in the
*mination of Leroy Percy to succeed
nator A. J. McLaurin, deceased, it
probable that an open letter to
annon & Street. of Laurel, recently
fitten by Col. H. NJ. Street, veteran
~.islator and citizen. who has spent
er forty years in public life, will be
interest. That letter is as follows:
Meridian. MISS, June Is. 1911.
Pssrs. Shannon & Street, Laurel, Miss.
Gentlemen | have yours of recent
Ute. asking me to write what know
out the Legislative caucus during the
ssion of 1910, and how it compared
9Th previous Democratic caucuses.
ere was nothing that came under my
*servation during the caucus that any
hest participant should wish to con-
jail, and the only reason that have
"a replied to the remarkable state
ents made by disappointed parties is
aversion to engaging in a contro-
krsy at a time when the minds of
any people are so poisoned with pas
IN and prejudice that statements not
accord with pr~econceived opinions
not credited.
he general call for the caucus was
follows:
Whereas, more than one form of
for a Democratic caucus to nomi-
Ute a candidate for United States sen
DR. has been circulated and signed,
erefere
10 avoid confusion and exercising
ly such authority as may be con-
fred upon me by either of said calls,
4ereby name Thursday. Jan 6. 1910,
%7:30 p. M. as the time. and the haH
THE house OF representatives as the
ce of meeting of said caucus.
I'll recommend that the two houses
tourn oyer until Saturday or Sunday,
i give the intervening time to the
NBiness Of the caucus.
"H. NJ. STREET,
Speaker OF the House"
n January, 1904, Senator Walthall
kigned his seat in the United States
nate. In December, 1863, Senator
&Laurin died. In both cases it de-
Nved upon the legislature to fill the
&.ancy without instruction from the
Dple. In both instances a caucus was
He'd to select a successor. In 1904
IRE were twenty Populists in the leg
4ture, In 1910 all claimed to be Dem
ats. This was a matter bearing on
Il propriety or necessity of calling a
kHcus, but had no bearing on the man
#of voting after the caucus was as
&nbled. for in both cases the caucus
$ composed of Democrats only and
people had as much right in II
be as the other to know how their
,resentatives voted.
Two Calls for Caucus.
n 1894, | remember of no objection
atever to a vote by ballot, and that
thod was adopted. Each member
spared his own ballot and dropped it
the box. In 1910 the lanes were all
one ticket, and the voter put a cross
oosite the name of his choice. While
10 not know why this method was
opted, | believe it was done to shut
dark horses, and while 1t may have
me, | had no right to object. 1t
S intended to and did improve the
ances of every man On the ticket.
There were two calls for a caucus.
\ e first intlmation | had of a caucus
lis from a leading Vardaman man.
said the call provided for a viva
Zee vote and that | should preside.
e other was unconditional and was
Erred by 1877 members out Of a total of
II. l presume the latter was not pre-
Snted to all, as there were Vardaman
I'd anti Vardaman men whose names
pre- not on it.
In 1894 the man feared was the noble,
dependent and upright John M.
one.
The silver question was just begin
ing to loom up. 1t was brought be-
Zee the caucus in a shape most GER
I'm to eliminate Stone. The candi-
tes were not asked to give their own
ews, but to answer the question, do
Ia indorse the position of George and
Nalthali on the silver question:"
when this question was proposed in
e caucus. DIR. KERN, of Holmes, who
fas an ardent free silver man and be-
eved in meeting all issues squarely
d fairly. moved to am end by asking,
do you favor the free and Unlimited
# mage of silver and gold at a ratio of
~ to II" He was Immediately be-
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