The commonwealth. (Greenwood, Miss.) 1896-1923, 1915-07-16
PAID BILBO 500 TO STAND HITCHED
TO VARDAMAN.

IL VARDAMAN.
In bis speech at Pontotoc Governor Brewer
stated that Lieutenant Governor Bilbo worked his
grant on the vardaman faction for 500 during the
famous secret caucus threatening to quit sup
porting Vardaman unless he was paid 500.
The Governor further declared that the $1n|
paid to Bibo by Mr.. John Armstrong. Of jack
son, a member of Vardaman's military staff for four
years, and who had long been an ardent and en-
supporter of Vardaman. He declared,
furthermore, that if anybody doubted this statement
they could write to Mr.. Armstrong and have it
verified.
Since that time Mr.. Armstrong has received
several hundred letters from all parts of the State
asking him whether the charge is true or false.
In reply to this inquiry Mr.. Armstrong has
written and given out the following self explanatory
letter to Mr.. B. F. Jones, of fernando:
Jackson, Miss, July S, 1915.
Mr.. B. F. Jones, HERNANDEZ, Miss.
Dear Sir-In reply to your letter regarding the
Bilbo matter, I will state that / with a number of
Senator Vardaman's personal friends met in the
office of Mr.. Doty and by private subscription
made up a purse of about 5000 to be used to secure
proper rooms for Vardaman headquarters, including
telephone and telegraph service.
| personally subscribed to this fund and stayed
at these headquarters day and night for about two
weeks.
Bibo came to me one day at our headquarters
and asked me how much money we had to spend.
| replied to him that the above fund was all
we had and that it would take every dollar of it and
more too to pay the necessary expenses of these
headquarters during the caucus.
He stated to me that his salary as State senator
was small and that the other side was offering him
a free room with bath and meals and money to spend
If hp would oOrno ouor and holo 4Loo - e T ----rL
get him 500 he would remain with us in the fight
stating to me that he controlled seven votes.
l consulted my friends regarding this matter
and we decided to give him the 500.
| personally handed this 500 to him in the
presence of another gentlamen.
| can prove every word | say if he denies it.
only told a few very close friends Of mine of the
occurrence.
| have always been such a great admirer OF
Senator Vardaman that | deemed it my sacred duty
to make known these facts in order to protect him
against being entangled in the present gubernatoria1
race.
| also made a trip to Winona and told DR.
Ward, as I had always looked upon him as oul
leader, making known these facts to him in order tc
keep his skirts clear.
| have tried to be loyal to my friends in this
matter and do no one any harm.
A short time back | was cartooned in The
Issue in a very compromising manner as major
Drumme Armstrong under the caption Doubled
Crossed" for no reason on earth only that / am toe
honest and honorable to support the man at its
head.
At this time | prepared an article which full,
Intended giving to the press so my friends would see
which OF the two of us was a double crossed. | gave
him money and quit him cold.
He took money from both sides.
On second consideration l decided not to pu
this article in the paper at the time because | did no
want to give him an opportunity to howl perse
cution.
l still have confidence in the citizenship Of
Mississippi, and fully believe that Is per cent. o.
Senator Vardaman's true friends have stopped tc
think and will never elect a man of this calibre tc
the highest office within the gift of the people.
l regret that / have been dragged into this
matter.
| can prove every %utterance | have made, bu'
will not divulge the name of my good friends who
are acquainted with the circumstances unless Bilbo
denies the charge.
| am a hard working private citizen of Missis
|sippi. l am not a candidate for any office and hope
| never will be.
l am not seeking any newspaper notoriety, but
merely stating facts and it is immaterial with me
whether the people believe what l stated or not.
am not loser either way.
But the State will be the loser if thew doub
what say. With very best wishes, | am,
Yours very truly, JNO. w. ARMSTRONG.