Macon beacon. [volume] (Macon, Miss.) 1859-1995, 1911-07-21

gored.
l was present at every session of the
caucus. 1t was no more a secret caucus
than the one in 1894, in which Governor
Vardaman and 1 both took part. At
that time Governor Stone, Judge Camp
bell, Governor Lowry, John Allen, Anse
MeLaurin and R.. H. Taylor were candi-
dates. Following the action of all eau
cuses and conventions, it was the field
against the leading candidate. This
is not the result of enmity, but of per-
sonal interest. Each of the weaker can
didates, thinking he would be the bene-
ticiary in the defeat of the stronger
man.
In 1894 the man feared was the noble,
Independent and upright John NJ. Stone.
The silver question was just begin
ming to loom up. 1t was brought before
the caucus in the shape most certain
to eliminate Stone. The candidates were
not asked to give their own views, but
to answer the question, "Do you en-
dorse the position of George and Wal
than on the silver question"
When the question was proposed in
the caucus, DIR. KERN, of Holmes, who
was an ardent free silver man and be-
lieved in meeting all issues squarely and
fairly, moved to amend by asking, "Do
you favor the free and unlimited coinage
of silver and geld at a ratio of 16 to
IL" He was Immediately besieged with
requests to withdraw the amendment
and was assured of the fact that it
would be voted down, as the party was,
at that time, not prepared to go that
far. I then offered as a substitute, d
you favor the coinage of gold and silver
at such a ratio as will make every dol
lar coined and issued by the government
equal to every other dollar in the mar
kets of the world?" This was lost by a
tie vote and the question adopted as
originally conceived. Stone Immediately
withdrew. After a few ballots, Allen
withdrew, leaving McLaurin, Lowry,
Campbell and Taylor in the race. 1t
was then the field against McLaurin
and the second combination was formed.
A caucus of the friends of Lowry,
Campbell and Taylor was held in the
supreme court room, and a resolution
adopted, pledging each member to vote
in the general caucus for the nominee
of this side caucus. The decision was
reached by requiring each member to
vote for two candidates-frst choice ard
second choice. After adding first and
second choice votes together, the lowest
was dropped. Lowry was the first
dropped. On the next ballot, Taylor
was nominated by this side caucus, but
was defeated by McLaurin in the gen
eraI caucus. The voting III all the
caucuses was by ballot, just as was
that of 1910.
In the caucus of 1894 the following
resolution was unanimously adopted:
Resolved, by the Democratic NOM
bers of the Mississippi legislature i'll
caucus assembled that we pledge our
selves, individually and collectively, that
no election of senator shall occur in the
two houses or in joint convention until
a nomination is made by this caucus,
and if no nomination is made before the
time for voting begins, we will go dis
tribute our votes in either house or in
joint convention as to prevent airy one
candidate receiving a majority"
The Gibbs resolution of 1910 said:
Each member of this caucus is instruct
ed to vote on each roll call for a Demo
crat of the voters congressional district, |
not heretofore voted for"
10SwAuC1Oh VI 1CSt was q pICNSC |
and binding on the conscience of the
members. That of 1910 was an nlstruc-
ton of no binding effect, and members
obeyed it because they thought it best
for their candidate. Each member haze
a right to vote as he pleased until a
nomination was made. The resolution
only served as an excuse to those who
wanted it and could not have been forced
of a single member.
l never saw a cleaner Of fairer eau
Gus than that of 1910. Ladies' were in
constant attendance. Mrs. Vardaman, |
than whom there was not a more re-
fined Christian lady in Jackson, attend
ed all the meetings. On one Or more
occasions she occupied a SCAT on the
speakers stand. My family were there
frequently. None of these good women
would have been in a dirty, rotten gath
ing of any kind. I cannot speak for
places frequented by Bilbo and White,
where the presiding officer of the caucus
had no jurisdiction. The caucus should
not be held responsible for occurrences
at places where decent people could not
go.
Something has been said about detec-
tive work. That work is justifable and
sometimes necessary. A reliable detec-
tive is hard to find. TO be one a man
must be able to tell q lie with the as
sumed candor of truth. If al honest
man undertakes it his conscience be-
trays him. What the dishonest man I'M
covers still remains doubtful if not cor
roborated by otherA because he is still
under suspicion. But his statements
should be weighed in the light of reason
and if they will not stand such a light
they should be discarded.
A nomination secured by bribery is
not binding on any Democrat. He sEOoII |