The Yazoo sentinel. (Yazoo City, Miss.) 1878-1916, 1915-07-22
Biographical Sketch Of Theodore G. Bilbo
BiZbo

nractice in this State, which has continued
ever since with a constantly increasing
success and honor; the firm of Bllbo
Shipman being among the strongest legal
firms in South Mississippi, the practice OF
his profession being interrupted but once,
when he took a post graduate course an
law. at the University of Michigan, IN
1908. after his election to the State Senate
ins1907. ~
When he began his campaign Tor the
Senate, he had neither money, nor lnilu-
ence nor political prestige to support ms
ambitions; he was fairly well known as q
school teacher and lawyer In the flve coun-
ties that constitute his home district, and
had nothing but his record and his char y
acter. as a man, to commend him TO the
consideration of voters; yet we doubt II
any tyro in politics ever accomplished so
sweeping victory upon his first venture
upon those uncertain seas; and especially
against such formidable opposition. lie
literally swept the district, carrying every
county in it and beating his opponent by a
majority of about three to one.
Thus accredited, he took his seat IN the
Senate in 1908 and soon took foremost
place in that body of strong men, standing
always for the welfare of the masses and
strenuously opposing all legislation mimi
cal to that interest.
The session of 1908 passed without any
great issue of Statewide Importance be-
ing developed. But it was at-this session
that the senator from Pearl River first
commanded attention by assailing the
methods employed by the selfish and pre-
flatorv interests backed by : subsidized
press to-inf1uence legislation in their Pc
half. He was relentless in his attacks up
on these influences and succeeded in dflVS
inc them from the capitol, therein incur
ring their undying enmlty, winch mas
persistently pursued him ever since. Inc
succeeding session of the same senate &C.
veloped the most bitter factlonal conillct
that has ever stirred the political waters
of Mississippi to their depths
United States Senator A. ]. McLaurln,
Of honored memory, had died suddenly in
December. 1909, lust previous to the con-
yening ofthe legislature in January, 1910.
Governor Noel appointed Col. James Cor
don. an honored veteran of the Confed-
eracy, to fill the vacancy until the leglsla-
fire should convene and choose Senator
McLaurin's successor.
Former Governor James K. Vardaman,
who had been a candidate against Hon.
John Sharp Williams for the United States
Senate in 1907, and who was defeated by
only six hundred votes, had gained a
prestige and demonstrated his wonderful
strength before the people in that contest
so conclusively that no doubt was enter
tanned that he should be the logical sue
cessor to the lamented McLaurin. 1t was
generally conceded that, as against any
other candidate, who might offer for the
Mace. before the people, he would be over
whelmingly chosen. It was assumed that
the Legislature, presumably rejecting the
popular will, would promptly, upon con.
vening, elect the former Governor to I'll
the vacancy created by Senator McLau'
rims death.
But there were other ambitions and In
. fluences to be reckoned with; the secre
caucus of malodorous memory resulted
and. through many days, the conflict wal
waged between the Vardaman forces ant
the adherents of combination of SOM
half dozen candidates, united to defeat tn