The Tupelo journal., 1911-07-21
Attorney General Hudson's Re
ply to False Charges.

NV attention has been called to two
circulars which are being distributed
over the State by my opponent, Ross
A. Collins, or in his behalf. They are
sent particularly to my friends who are
supporting Governor Vardaman. One
of these circulars is a copy of an edi-
torial from the M~ississippian, and the
other is a copy of an editorial from the
Osyka Herald. The statements in
those circulars are false, and Mr.. Col
Inns knows they are. He is deliberate
ly circulating. or having them circula-
ted, for the benefit which he hopes
he will obtain.
In an effort to defeat me for the of
fee of Attorney General, he is willing
and anxious to destroy in the eyes and
minds of the people of this State of
Mississippi my character and reputation
for uprightness and integrity with
statements that he knows to be false.
Although he knows the statement is
false, he would have the people of the
State of Mississippi believe that Ed
ward Hines has paid money to Have
this case dropped, and that his money
is being used in the present campaign.
Mr.. Collins and his friends selected
the Hines Lumber case simply because
a false charge that Edward Hines, OF
Lorimer Election Scandal notoriety, had
bribed the administration, would at
tract more attention than a charge that
a mar of better reputation had done so.
AS to my connection and conduct
with reference to the Hires Lumber
Company case, / submit the following
signed statement by Messrs. W. j..
Gex, of Bay ST. Lolis, Mss, j. n.
Flowers and A. H. Whitfield, Jr, of
Jackson.
Jackson, Miss, July l., III.
..The case of the State of Mississippi
ex rel. VS. Edward Hines Lumber Com
pany, in the Chancery Court of Pearl
River county, was filed February 3,
1910, by the undersigned w. J:'Gex, a
lawyer of Bay St. Louis, Miss, under
a contract made by him with the Gov
ernor.
AT the time, the Hon. j. E. Stir
ling was Attorney General, and the
present Attorney General did not come
into office until the 9th day of April,
1910.
MIR. Gex engaged the firm Of Flow
ers, Fletcher & Whitfield. of Jackson,
to assist in the litigation. We, the
undersigned lawyers, have been in i'm
mediate control of the case, and ever
since he has been in Office, Attorney
General Hudson has advised with US
and assisted US in every way possible.
"He has never at any time or in any
manner done or suggested anything
that would inJure or jeopardize the
States interest in this suit.
There has been no DELAY unusual
in cases of the same character and i'm
portance as this.
'.Mr. Hudson has not attempted to
dictate to us any course of conduct in
this suit contrary to what we consider
ed the best course, and the n best
calculated to secure the most favorable
Judgment for the State, The case is
now a live controversy. The States
interest has not been and is not being
neglected.
(Signed) w. J. Gex.
j. N. Flowers,
A. H. Whitfield, Jr.
All four of the men are lawyers and
stand high in their profession, and
they are men of unquestionable and
unimpeachable integrity Of character
Mr.. Flowers was formerly Assistant
Attorney General of Mississippi. Judge
R. v. Fletcher, who is now in Chicago,
was formerly Assistant Attorney Gen.
eral, and aJudge of the Supreme Court
of Mississippi. Mr.. Gex is a warm
personal and political friend and sup
porter Of Governor Vardaman, and I
am informed that Judge Fletcher is
also.
I publish this statement signed by all
these gentlemen who are Tow in Mis-
sissippi, in order that the people may
be made aware Of the means that are
being employed by Mr.. Collins to de-
feat me, and that the people may
know how much credit to give to char
8 - 80