Macon beacon. [volume] (Macon, Miss.) 1859-1995, 1915-06-25
GOV. BREWERS
GREAT SPEECH
IN GREENWOOD
THE GOVERNOR LITERALLY TORE
THE HIDE OFF OF SENATOR
LEE RUSSELL.
RUSSELL REFUSED TO ENGAGE
IN JOINT DEBATE BECAUSE
HE WAS NOT PERMITTED
TO HAVE CLOSING
TALK.
Largest and Most Enthusiastic PoIit-
ieaI Gathering Held in Green
wood In a Long
Time.
(From the Greenwood Commonwealth

IUWCs
(From the Greenwood Commonwealth
The joint debate, scheduled to take
place In Greenwood on Tuesday even
ing, June Sth. failed to materialize be-
tween Governor Earl Brewer and State
Senator Lee M. Russell, of Oxford.
Governor Brewer came to Green
wood to speak in response to a nu-
merously signed petition of Greenwood
and Leflore county citizens, and the
same citizens through the committee
extended an invitation through Gov.
Brewer, If he liked, to Senator Russell
20 speak on the same evening, and
Governor Brewer extended the invita-
ton personally when they were speak
ing at Ecru, Pontotoc county, on Mon
day, telling Mr.. Russell he was invited
for a Joint debate with him at Green.
wood, but telling him that he (Brewer)
would reserve the right to close the
debate. Both of these gentlemen
reached Greenwood at noon Tuesday,
and Senator Russell's committee sent
q communication suggesting that Gov
ernor Brewer open the debate with an
hours talk, Senator Russell to follow
with one hour and fifteen minutes,
Brewer to rejoin with thirty minutes.
and Russell to have a sur-rejoinder Of
fifteen minutes-no new matter to be
brought out in either rejoinder or sur
rejoinder, and that this be strictly ad-
hered to; that If Brewer preferred
Senator Russell to open, then let the
order be as above; and that II the
proposition failed to meet Brewers ap-
proval, then they would accept any
"give and take" proposition made re-
stricting the speaking to three hours.
This suggestion was signed by the
committee for Russell.
To this the committee representing
Gov Brewer, consisting of DR.. w. T.
Mathews, A. F. Gardner and John A.
Tyson, replied that they would give
Senator Russell one-half of the time;
that is, the first half; that If he was
unwilling to this, then let the Gov
open with a speech Of n hour,
Senator Russell to follow with one
hour and q half. and Brewer to close
with thirty minutes, closing their prop
osition with the expression there Is
no use of extended negotiations about
this; let him accept or reject"
The committee representing Sena-
tor Russell did not accept the propo-
sition, and at $3.50 o'clock Governor
Brewer began his speech. Senator
Russell sat in the audience through
out the Governors caustic and s"ath.
ing address of about three hours.
Governor Brewer was eloquently in
troduced by Hon. R. c. McBee, the for
mer able district attorney of this dis
trict, with ex-Judge Monroe McClurg
presiding over the big meeting.
The court house was filed with peo-
pie, many having to stand up-the au-
dience being decidedly by far the
largest that has greeted any speaker
here during the present campaign, and
quite a large number Of ladies graced
the occasion with their presence.
His speech was not concluded until
II o'clock, and for about three hours
he held the strict attention Of the
splendid audience with the masterful
presentation of his defense Of his ad-
ministration. No speaker was eve
given q more courteous or attentive
hearing, and his remarks were fire.
Qnently interrupted with outbursts of
prolonged applause. and his speech
was unquestionably we'll received. At
the conclusion Of the Governors
speech large numbers Of the great
audience went forward and c%ongratu.
lated him upon his superb address, and
he was given a perfect ovation.
GOVERNOR BREWERS SPEECH.
Mr.. Master of Ceremonies, Ladies
and Gentlemen, Friends and Fellow.
Citizens of Leflore County:
1t is always a happy privilege to
come before the good people of this
county and undertake to talk to you.
II is here that we find intelligent peo-
ole that are ready to hear and do the
right thing. l want to thank Mr.. Nc
Bee for the very nice things said Of
me in presenting me to you, and to
hope that l may be worthy OF what he
has said.
7 want to rise 10 a personal privi.
lege first and make some remarks
about q gentleman who came over here
TO meet me in joint debate this even
ing, Senator Russell. This man Is one
Of Bilbo's coattail- riders sent out to
keep the Governor from making
speeches to the people. Bilbo started
out to say that the chief plank In his
platform was Governor Brewer and his
perfidy; that he was going to send the
name of Earl Brewer down in odium;
that Governor Brewers administra-
ton was worse than that OF Ames and
Il did not stop there; but they went
10 far as to invade the very %sanctity
Of nv home and to declare that the ex-
ecutive mansion, where live with my
family, was a mere tango hall. They
began to call me to answer. went 10