The Hattiesburg news. (Hattiesburg, Miss.) 1908-1917, 1914-03-27
lONALD SAYS
CONTINUED from Page One.)

the Senate would confirm his judicial
appointments? Senator Casteel
asked.
I'VE discussed them" said Senator
Donald, "but no promises were made
70 At this juncture Senator Clements
of Sharkey said he had in his posses
sion the original affidavit made by J..
M. Arnold.
Read it, Let us hear it," several
Senators shouted in chorus.
Senator Clements then read the aft
davit, which follows:
Arnold Affidavit. ....
"This day personally appeared be-
fore me, the undersigned, Clerk Of
the Supreme Court Of the State Of
Mississippi, ]. M. Arnold, who, being
by me first duly sworn, on oath, says:
That on Sunday night, proceeding the
Monday on which the elective judici-
ary matter was heard in the Supreme
Court, he received a telephone mes
sage from Senator Donald to come to
the city of Jackson, as he wanted to
see him. That he came in answer to
said message and on Monday morn
| ing had a conversation with Senator
Donald in the office of the Lieut.. Gov
ernor; that Senator Donald in said
conversation said to this affiant that
he desired to see political peace es-
tablished in the Legislature, and that
he had given the matter great deal
of thought and had arrived at what
he thought was a just and fair solu-
ton, and what, in his opinion, would
establish peace; that he had not dis
cussed the matter with the Lieut..
Governor, but had discussed it with
Senator Sanders, and that his plan
met the approval of Senator Sanders
and that he had also submitted it to
Swept Taylor and that he approved
the plan. He further informed me
that they had a straight tip from the
Attorney-generaPs office that on the
next Monday morning the Supreme
Court would hold that the elective ju-
dietary amendment was a part of the
Constitution; that if this was done
it would be the policy of the Legisla-
ture to order the judicial elections at
once. His plan as outlined to me was
that the Governor of Mississippi dis
miss, or have dismissed the case now
pending against Lieut.. Gov. Bilbo and
that the Governor of Mississippi send
in during that present week his ju-
dicial appointments and they would
be confirmed before the Supreme
Court acted, and that peace would be
established. He asked me to submit
this plan to the Governor. | suggest
ed to him at the time that I was
doubtful whether the Governor would
even consider the matter and would
take the position that he had nothing
to do with cases pending in the court.
1t was then suggested that if the dis
trict attorney of the district in which
Warren county is located would an.
nounce that Bilbo would not be tried
that that would be sufficient. Senator
Donald told me that he was acting
purely on his own initiative. and that
the plan he was submitting was his
own and that his efforts were purely
in the interest of peace and harmony
On his assurances I agreed to submit
the matter to the Governor for his
consideration, and did so. The Cover
nor took the position that he could
not traffic in legislation and had moth
ing to do with matters pending in g
criminal court, and had no power tc
accept the offer even If he were to
consider it. He refused to have any
thing to do with it and so reported
to Senator Donald 1t was further
stated by Senator Donald to me, thai
if this offer was accepted and carried
out that they would help the Governor
| out, but that If the matter was moi