The commonwealth. (Greenwood, Miss.) 1896-1923, 1915-06-11
BIG CROWD HEARD GOV. BREWER,
GREAT SPEECH TUESDAY NIGHT.

- NJ AI4O1 OD11 4
The joint debate, scheduled to take
place in Greenwood last Tuesday night failed
to materialize between Governor Earl Brew
er and State Senator Lee M. Russell, of Ok
CD II Brewer came to Greenwood
to spec ,esponse to a numerously signed
Ipetitid JIE~G:inlreenwood and Lefore county
IcltizenSSrnA o Il the same citizens through the
commit y tended an invitation through
Gov. B1' ana f he liked, to Senator Russell
to speak uee efe same evening, and Cover
nor Brew Welktended the invitation person.
ally when - were speaking at Ecru, Pom
totoc countysbn Monday, telling Mr.. Russell
he was invited for a joint debate with him
at Greenwood, 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
Russells committee sent a communication
suggesting that Governor 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
mlnutes-no new matter to be brought out
IN either rejoinder or sur-rejoinder, and
that this be strictly adhered to-; that if
DAS"SI pICACllCu CCl1dCOI huSS6l 10 oyer,
then let the order be as above; and that if
the proposition failed to meet Brewers ap-
proval, then they would accept any "give
and take" proposition made restricting the
speaking to three hours. This suggestion
was signed by the committee for Russell.
To this the committee representing Gov
ernor Brewer, consisting Of DR.. W. T..
Mathews, A. F. Gardner and Jno. A. Tyson,
replied that they would give Senator Russell
one half Of the time, that is the first half;
that If ne was unwilling to this, then let the
Governor open with a speech of one hour,
Senator Russell to follow with one hour and
a half, and Brewer to close with thirty min
utes, closing their proposition with the ex-
preston there is no use of extended g
~tiations about this; let him accept or reject"
The committee representing Senator
Russell did not accept the proposition, and
at $3.50 o'clock Governor Brewer began his
speech: Senator Russell sat in the audience
throughout the Governors caustic and scath-
ing address Of about three hours.
Governor Brewer was e%loquently intro
duced by Hon. R. c.. McBee, the former
able district attorney Of this district, with
ex-Judge Monroe McClurg presiding over
the big meeting.
The court house was filled with people,
many having to stand up-the audience be-
ing 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.
Governor Brewer opened with a brief
explanation of his debate experience with
Senator Russell, relating his experiences at
places over the state where they had spoken,
during which the distinguished and eloquent
literally tore the hide off of the
back Of Senator Russell. He stated that
Senator Russell was in the audience here.
and that a yoke of oxen with a log chain
could not pull him on the platform in Joint
debate with him (Brewer) unless he Rus-
SELF was allowed to close the debate"
After his absolutely clear and s~atisfac-
tory explanation as to why Senator Russell |
and others were attempting to obstruct
him and prevent the delivery Of his message(
to the people," Governor B rewer launched
into a vigorous defense of his administra-
ton, recalling the planks of his platform
when he aspired for ~gubernatorial honors.
and giving information as to what has been
accomplished in his endeavor to carry out
his promises. He spoke of the obstacles
which had been placed in his way, and was
vigorous in his denunciation of the OPPOSE
ton he had always found to his efforts to
effect reforms. He spoke at length of his
endeavor to clean out graft from the state
government, and have punished the guilty, !.
giving detailed information as to conditions
in the state penitentiary. He spoke in
'deploring tones that such graft conditions
be allowed to continue, and was merciless
in his haying of Bilbo and 'the tactics Of
the man Bilbo and his c~oat-tail riders" His
speech was not concluded until eleven o'clock
and for about three hours he held the strict
of the Sn1endid a11dianco with +hoI