The Hattiesburg news. (Hattiesburg, Miss.) 1908-1917, 1913-12-22
MEETING WILL De FRAUGHT
WITH MUCH BITTERNESS AND
PARTISAN SPIRIT.
LITTLE LEGISLATION EXPECTED
Politics, II 10 Believed, VIII Over.
shadow Constructive Wcrk--sis
Question 10 What Senate intends to
do Concerning bibo and Hobbs.


Speeisl to The Nerve.
jackson, Miss. Dec. 22.-That the
legislative session is going to be the |
most notable held in Mississippi in
many years, fraught with much bitter
ness and partisan spirit. is conceded
on all sides. In other words, 1t II
going to be regular monkey-and-par-
rot time, the conclusion of which no
man can forecast with any degree of
certainty.
The old factional lines so plainly
marked at the session two years ago
have been shattered in many places,
chiefly due to Gov. Brewers anti-graft
crusade, and the work of the legisla-
tive investigating committee.
Politicians of prominence and influ-
ence who were sworn friends but two
short years ago are now bitter enc
mics, and the new alignments have
made some strange bedfellows .f
To what extent factional politics
and bitter personalities are going to
influence the general trend of legisla-
ton IL tho all-important question. In
many quarters the belief prevails that
political leaders are going to be kept
; so busy fighting each other that very
little time will be left for the more
serious work Of legislation. To some,
such a situation would be highly graft
flying. for there is very large and
respectable element in the state who
claim that Mississippi does not need
anything in the way Of new legisla-
ton; that the commonwealth can get
along mighty we'll with the laws now
in existence, If they are properly en-
Tho BIG Question.
! The big question, of course, is what
the state senate intends to do concern.
ing Lieut.. Gov. Bilbo and State Sena.
tor G. A. Hobbs, under indictment at
Vicksburg for bribe-taking, the trial OF
Hobbs being now In progress.
Neither Of these men are disqualified
under the constitution, and cannot be
unless they are convicted. Lieut.-Gov
Bilbo, unless he is placed on trial
l before the opening of the legislative
, session, will undoubtedly be present
: to preside over the senate proceedings
: Heretofore he has had very strong
: following In the body, has practically
t dominated its proceedings, and 1t re-
} mains to be seen whether he has suf
3 fered any loss of prestige among Its
t members.
Gov. Brewers biennial message is
r going to deal strongly with the Bilbo
D Hobbs indictment, and all other graft
e ing charges developed by him during
g the past few months. Just how the
e senate is going to receive this criti
a cism is an interesting subject of com
ment.
The prosecution at Vicksburg "
bending every possible energy this
week to get the Hobbs case disposed
Of and Lieut.-Gov. Bilbo placed on eria
before the 31st Of December.
II Should this endeavor be successful
l Bilbo cannot preside over the senate
session until he has answered the
bribery indictment. II the case |.
h once called 1t is certain that the prose
s cution will force him to trial, and
l. being in the custody of the WarreI
q county sheriff, he could hardly deser
IS the trial and journey to jackson TO
9 the legislative session.
On the other hand II the trial Q
,f Senator Hobbs should result in mis-
r trial or acquittal there is some douh
er whether the state will endeavor to 6
v. Immediately into the Bilbo case.
IT Hobbs predicament.
N Senator Hobbs however will be l
ID an awkward attitude before the legi
is lature, regardless Of what, may be tn
rs outcome of his trial. e1 will be
r. goodly number of me Nfmly col
IS vinced that he is guilt Ter whs
le the Jury finding may his wi
CONTINUED on Fl s.)