Oxford eagle., 1915-05-20
SENATOR ylROARAA IS
HOT OPPOSED TO BIlBO

Special to the Commercial Appeal
Jackson. Miss, May 1T-Be-
fore leaving here Sunday after
noon. for Little Rock, where'he
h-s 4 lecture app0intmsnt, SEN
atur Jas. it. yarJaman thought
Il proper 10 make clear state
ment Of his position in the guo-
ernagoFiai campaign, and with
. further desire to answer tine
many inqsiries which he is con-
stantly receiving. Over his own
signature, therefore. Senator
vardaman makes makes the fol-
owing statement Of his position.
incidentally Indicating his opin
ion Of Lieut.. Governor Bilbo.
s'To the People Of Mississippi:
lin order that | may avoid
answering q large number of in
quires regarding speech made
by me at Pontotoc on the eth ins..
have determined TO give to the
press the statement which follows
1T has been my purpose from
the beginning Of the campaign
for governor II remain absolutely
neutral Four Of the candidates
have been my friends in the past
and trust that they are my
friends still. caeerfuily ac-
knowledge my obligations to them
for support in the past campaign.
they are men Of character and
ability and they are amply able
% take care Ok themselves in this
contest. | had hoped that |
would not be forced to say any
thing one way or the other more
than | have already said regard
ing the campaign for the guber-
Material nomination, but my
political enemies will not permit
me to remain altogether silent.
SAYS BILBO CAPABLE
while they contend that L
have no Influence in the state,
and ! am willing for the sake OF
this discussion - admit il, yet
every speech that | make is mis- (
Interpreted for the purpose, APP
pareutly OF injuring Lieutenant
Governor B.loo by making il sp- /
pear that i an antag1nistic to
sim which is untrue. For in
stance. certain words imputed to
ne in my speech at Pontotoc are
as condemnation OF
3ilbo, which is altogether with
'ut authority of fact or justifiea-
ion by any rule Or Interpretation
II the English langugage.
"My denunciation az the bribe
aker and the bribe giver had no
.efsrenee 10 nor was IN any way
, condemnation Of Bilbo- The
truth Is, think Gov BsIbo did /
the people of Mississippi great /
servIce when he exposed the
bribery and rascalIty OF that band
Of character assassius ana de,
os legislators who OUT
ragged the Legislature of 1910 and
defeated the viii OF the people OF
the state in the senatorial election
~ that tine For the service
rendered 10 the people Of the
state az that lnneture of the states
history / have always felt the
deepest gratituae and think the
people OF Mississippi SHARE my
feelings.
Now TO put forever at rest
any question Of my position. |
want It distinctly understood that
have as much faith in BiIbo's
capacity and fidelity to meet and
perform the duties of the ofice
9f governor As any man who Is
aspiring 20 X think he has
proven his capacity to take care
OF himself, and, so far as | know,
ne only asks for square deal
from tue people of the state who
are to name .MissIssippi's next
governor. | hope that the mis-
representation OF my enemies will
not make it necessary for me 10
say anything else with reference
70 my position in this campaign.
IL Is unfortunate that the race
has been characterized by Sc
much viIliIeasIon and misrepre-
sentation. this should be eliminst-
ed and the white Democrats OF
the state permitted to vote theil
convictions without reference tc
anything except the qualiica-
. tons of the candidate.