The Semi-weekly leader., 1914-10-07

DO not Join you In your effort to
exterminate Bilbo is intended,
probably, as modest tribute to
your own heroism. ! have no
doubt about your "nerve."s
But IssubmIt that you are not al
together an impartial Judge when
it comes to estimating your own
splendid courage. You express the
opinion that / am afraid of BiIbo
because "Bilbo might run against
me for the Senate do not be-
lieve you think that. If have
ever done anything in public or
private life which 1ustifies that es.
innate of me, / cannot recall it.
/ am not afraid Of Bilbo or any 9th.
er man defeating me for the Sem
ate. But have no doubt that if
you, Bilbo or any other aspiring
politician in Mississippi should con-
clude that you could defeat me for
the United States Senate and be
elected to the place yourself that
you would run against me. And
| want to assure you that / do not
think that an unworthy ambition.
The Office of United States Sen.
ator is great place. 1t is the
goal Of most mems ambition who
aspire to eminence in American
politics. | have no quarrel with
you or anyone else who may enter
tain that aspiration. On the con-
trary, rather commend you for it.
And want to assure you that if the
time ever comes when the people
OF IA Mississippi would prefer Bilbo,
you or any other man to me, that
/ would not throw anything in the
way of expressing their preference.
I,wouId not have the Senatorship,
unless it came to me as a free-wilI
offering ran expression of conf
'dence from the Democratic
voters Of Mississippi. / hold the
commission just in that way. and
] shall regard it as a sacred trust.
and keep it until the people man.
ifest desire to take it from me.
1t is not the purchase article of
a Secret Caucus but rather a
gift from the unpurchased and
unpurchasabIe, independent, honest
electors. And would not hold it,
| repeat, for one moment, if 1
/ did not believe that a majority
of the people desire me to hold it,
SO, | am not trying to prevent any,
body running against me for the
Senate. The field is open and all
who will enter. may. And ] do not
want anybody to vote against Gov
ernor Bilbo or anyone else who
aspires to the Governorship be-
cause of the possibility of such an
tagonizing in the proper way, my
political aspirations in the future
So, | hope you will give yourself
no further concern along that line.
If deserve the Office the people
will premlt me to retain it. If l.
do not deserve it then. / ought not
to retain it.
Now. as ! have told you on one
or two former occasions. have
nothing whatever to do with yours
and Lieutenant-G Governor BilDo's
quarrel. IL is of 10 personal con-
cern to me. | do not think it has
any political Significance other than
a misunderstanding which has
grown into a bitter feud between
two prominent, ambitious men.
Being purely a personal matter,
you gentlemen must settle it. Il
should like very much to be let
alone. You have no authority to
quote me on any question. | am
amply able to take care of my own
affairs in that regard. My duties
in Washington are absorbing. L
am doing my dead level best to
properly perform the duties of the
great Office to which the good peo-
pie or Mississippi have elected me.
BiIbo, who is. and has been for
some time my political and person
al friend, has not called upon me
for help in the contest with you,
and youy who have never supported
me. who have never been my polit-
ical friend have no right to ask me
for help | want you to understand
that ! write this letter in no spirit
|of hostility or personal llI-WiII.
AS the Governor of my State, in
an humble way, / stand ready at
all times to uphold your hands, In
the proper performance Of your Off
|cial duties. Personally, my feel
ings for you are kindly and cordial.
| want this letter taken in that
spirit. But / do again. most earn
|estly request Of you to leave me
out Of your personal and political
quarrels.
Cordially and sincerely,
lSigned) JAS. x. VARDAMAN.