The Semi-weekly leader. (Brookhaven, Miss.) 1905-1941, 1914-07-15
A BILBO CELEBRATION
Held Under Shadow Of Governors
Mansion Speakers Of
Occasion.

Occasion.
Jackson, Miss. July 11.-A
large number of the friends of
Lieut.. Gov. Theo. G. BiIbo, recent
ly acquitted on charge of solicit
ing bribe, held a "Bilbo rally"
in Smith Park, just in the rear of
the home of BiIbo's bitterest enc
my, Gov. Earl Brewer, last night,
and many of the speakers in refer
ring to the unfriendly relations
existing between the two state Off
cials pointed towards the executive
mansion, where the governor was
quietly enjoying a good cigar in
the drawing room. and conversing
with friends, seemingly unmindfuI
Of the uncomplimentary things be-
ing said of him in a public gather
ing not two hundred yards away.
The Bilbo. supporters had secured
the services Of a band, and march
ed from the union passenger sta
tlon to the park, cheering Justify
for the man whom they claim will
be the next>governor Of the State.
The list of speakers included
Former State Senator John L.
Hebron, Mayor S. j. Taylor, of
jackson: Judge W. j. Jones, of
jackson; State Senator Lee H.
Russell, of Oxford; State Senator
Clayton D. Potter, State Senator
Hall Sanders and L. H. Doty. The
lieutenant governor spoke for a
few minutes at the conclusion of
the rally. saying that in his ac-
quittal right and justice had pre-
vailed. The speakers referred to |
the rally as a Celebration of the
triumph of truth" Many ladies
we're in the park, including the
wife of the lieutenant governor,
who occupied a seat in the court |
room at every session of the Kinds
county circuit court during the |
long and tedious trial of her hus-
band.
WHAT SPEAKERS SAID.
John L. Hebron presided, and in |
opening the meeting congratulated |
Kinds county on her twelve honest |
jurymen. The jury, the speaker
said, was the only thing Earl"
had not corrupted. He predicted |
that Bilbo would carry 80 per cent |
of the votes in the race for govern
or next year, and closed by present.
ing Judge Pat Henry, of Vicks-
burg.
Judge Henry told of the hard
fight the defense had in the long
trial before Judge Teat, and said |
he had learned to love Bilbo. He
referred to Gov. Brewer as the
"tyrant who had sought to crush |
Bilbo and as the despot who sits
in the house over there, where not |
a spark of light is to be seen" and |
he didn't blame him as he had been
'repudiated and rebuked for his
efforts to ruin this young man."
His criticism of Judge Teat was
severe.
Lee M. Russell, of Oxford, told |
of Bilbo's career in the senate, and |
of the confidence there accorded |
him. He announced himself as a
candidate for acknowledgement, |
and took a whack at Judge Teat's
court before which he served as
one of Bilbo's attorneys.
Oscar Stewart, a drummer, be-
lieved Bilbo the greatest man the
state had ever produced and told |
what he thought of him.
= Senator Clayton Potter, of Jack
son, congratulated the State On its
jury system, and said the verdict |
of the jury was the decision of
honest men. If it had been differ
ent it would have been condemned. |
Senator Hall Sanders of Talla-
hatchie county referred to Gov. |
Brewer as an imp of iniquity"
and called attention to the darken-
ed mansion over the way. He felt |
assured if the Kinds county jury
had returned different verdict in
the Bilbo case, -Tallahatchie county
would have sent 750 men. armed
with mlskets, rifles and reyolvers,
to Jackson.
Ney Williams, of Raymond. de-
clared himself the happiest man in
the State-just as happy as the
day he got married, when BiIbo
was acquitted.
Lieut-Gov. Bifbo told the
audience he had undergone great
many trials during the past four
years, but he was working in the
interest of the people, and did not
regret the hardships he and his
family had to endure. He paid his
respects to Gov. Brewer in strong
terms. declaring he had disgraced
the State, and he would like to
blot from the history of Mississippi |
his record. But he said he did not
propose to discuss him as an issue,
for he is dead forever politically.
He announced his candidacy for
governor. and said that he would
make the canvass Of the state on his
record.