The Brandon news. (Brandon, Miss.) 1892-1961, 1911-06-22

| OF tne Dulldlng and that 1T was
only fair that he be allowed the
hundred dollars. Hebron spoke of
| the many improvements made in the
insane hospital during Vardaman' 5
administration. The patients had
all been crowded together, consume
tives with the others. Vardaman
had separated the consumptives
from those not affected. Vardaman
had also completed the wings to
the deaf and dumb asylum building.
Next, the speaker touched on the
penitentiary system. He referred
to the old ring which had controlled
this before Vardaman's administra-
ton. Vardaman turned the light
on. Had abolished the old system
of working the convicts on shares.
He said Vardaman could have pur-
chased delta plantation on credit.
worked it with convict labor and
retired FROM L. ,vern1rs nfficc
a rich mar.
The speaker very emphatically
said that he didn't believe any fair
minded man in this state who had
taken time to investigate the charg-
es of dishonesty against Vardan1an
believed that the charges were true.
Then the speaker discussed the
legislative caucus at some length.
He believed that with Senator Nc
Laurin's death large majority of
his support turned to Vardaman.
Hebron had wanted to introduce
a resolution in the session of the
Legislature of 1910 calling for pri-
mary election but did not. Mr.. He
bron said he never wanted to again
60 through such a fight as that OF
| the caucus. Vardaman men fought
in the open and were shot at from
ambush. Such a caucus, declared
the speaker was never before held.
A caucus was held only where
there were two or more political
parties never where there was only
one. McMillians resolution for an
open vote for senator was tabled.
Resolution was introduced for Sc
cret caucus and carried. Never be-
fore was such an unholy combi-
nation.
During his speech Mr.. Hebron
asked if the late Senator McLuarln
had any friends in the audience.
A man in the audience promptly
replied: Lots of them" Another,
of the audience said Everyone
here" Senator Hebron then said
that he wanted to read something
Senator Percy had said about Sen
ator McLaurin, a resolution intro
duced by Percy criticizing McLaurin
after the latter had retired from
the governors chair. The speaker
read the extract, making the point
that no friend of Senator McLaurin
could support Percy after hearing
it. Mr.. Hebron then spoke of Per-
cy's criticism of McLaurin while he
was in the governors office and of
Noel on account Of the levee matter.
Mr.. Hebron again took up the
caucus and went into detail, show
ing the workings of that caucus.
He declared that this caucus held
to defeat the will of the citizens
of the state cost the taxpayers
S250,O0O, this including the salaries
of the offices created by the leg
islature, which offices, Mr.. Hebron
said, were created as a reward for
assistance rendered the opposition.
Mr. Hebron charged that Federal
patronage, gubnatorial patronage,
money and whiskey were used in
the caucus to defeat Vardaman. He
went on to enumerate the voters
changed by these four influences.
Mr.. Hebron asserted that Noel pros
tituted every function of his office
to crafty a personal revenge. That
Bilbo was not the only man that got
money.
AS to the charges that liquor was
dispensed at Vardaman's headquar-
ters. Mr.. Hebron stated that he
was in and OF of Vardaman's head
quarters and that the only thing
he had seen in the headquarters was
cent cigars and ice water.
This caucus placed stain on tie
fair name Of Mississippi, declared
Mr. Hebron, which only the election
of Vardaman in the coming pri-
maries could remove. If either
Percy or Alexander were elected the
people endorsed the secret caucus
and if they did. goodby to free
government. But he believed that
Vardaman would be elected in the
first primary by a majority of 20
900 to 10000
The speaker touched on the ques-
ton Of Joint debate, showing how
these debates nearly always pravok-
ed riot and sometimes bloodshed
between the followers of the DIFF
ferent candidates ard praised Var
.daman for refusing to be drawn in
to a joint debate. lie spoke OF q