The Hattiesburg news., 1916-01-20
HUMPHREYS WANTS
POLITICAL PEACE
FAVORED AS DELEGATE TO DEM
ocRATIc NATIONAL
CONVENTION.

liS uctH ou66cotCp NY HuhpPi "
newspapers in the state for selection
as one of the four delegates to the
Democratic National Convention from
the state at large, Representative B
GA Humphreys of Mississippi stated
today that, while he was not candi
date for the honor, he would not be
so fnsensible to the compliment com
veyed by the proffer of 1t as to decline
These newspapers, without excep-
tion, have indicated that the opposing
Democratic factions in Mississippi
would be fairly represented in st.
Louis by the selection of Governor
Bilbo, Senator Vardaman, Senator
Williams and Representative Hum
phreys as the four delegates from the
state at large.
To send the Governor of the state
and its two U. S. senators to the
Democratic National Convention would
be in accord with custom which
has been adhered to for years in Mis-
sissippi, as well as in other states,
notably in the South. 1t is apparent
that the suggestion of Mr.. Humphreys
to make the quartet of the states rep
resentation by delegates at large is
in the nature of the fitness of things
as regards local conditions in the
party in Mississippi and also the ma
tional party organization
The fact that Senator Williams and
Mr.. Humphreys were selected as the
representatives of one faction in the
party in Mississippi and Govern9r ~
bo and Senator Varday6e were select
ed as the representa- es of another
faction in theIparty would not neces-
sarily imply that they would go to the
- ,uis convention at loggerheads
regards national candidates
, or fpitional issues 1t need not neces-
sar!ly mean the militancy of factional
strife n the Democratic party in Mis-
slssippi, for as a Yatter of fact, evil
Geuces Of cessation of factional Bit
tcrness in the state seem to be multi
plying lately. The sending of these four
prominent Democratic national and
state officials, however, would mean a
recognition of the factions which have
contended in the past for mastery in
the control of party affairs within the
state. 1t also might tend to the estop-
pal of one faction from precipitating
confusion by declaring that an injus-
tice had been deliberately .perpetrated
by the other faction, which had thus
violated a custom observed for years
without reference to local divisions.
Would Appreciate Honor.
Asked today if he was now candi-
date or expected to become a candi-
date for selection as a delegate-at-
large to the st. Louis convention, Rep
resentative Humphreys said:
81 would of course, be glad to go
TO the ST. Louis convention as a dele
gate-at-large from Mississippi, but ]
am not a candidate for the place. We
are torn by factionalisms in MISSISSIPPI
pi politics to the great detriment OF
our state for the past five or six years,
and what we most need now is politi-
cal peace"
His attention being called to the re-
rent article in Mississippi newspapers
suggesting that all fa3tionalism. be
laid aside and that Governor Bllbo
ard Senator Vardaman on the one side
and Senator Williams and himself on
the other side be agreed upon as the
four delegates from the state at large,
Mr.. Humphreys said:
IF this will tend toward the allay-
ing of the spirit of factionalism
would like to have the appointment,
but if it is to be made a test of fac
tional strength | would refuse to EN-,
ter the race"
, While there is no authority for say
ing that Governor Bilbo, Senator Var,
daman and Senator Williams will as
pire to attend the St. Louis conven,
tion as delegates from the state at
large, the presumption is that they
|, like Representative Humphreys, would
! not decline the honor that such a
commission would imply. Mr.. Hum
phreys gave wholesome proof of the
delicacy of his conception of the honor
!, as well as of political conditions ip
his home state when he declared that
he would not seek the commission as
a candidate.
OF course, Senator Williams, Sena
tor yardaman and Governor Bilbo