Macon beacon. [volume] (Macon, Miss.) 1859-1995, 1916-01-21

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the enactment of constructive laws
by the Legislature now in Office,
then Theodore G. Bilbo can give
James K. Vardamsn a mighty
hard run for his money two years
hence.
There are many thousands of
voters who voted against Bilbo
last year, and strongly opposed to
him now, yet they would gladly
give him their support in event
he enters a Senatorial contest
against Vardaman. Many ofthem,
perhaps, would not support him
with enthusiasm, but they would
support him nevertheless, believ-
ing Bilbo to be the lesser of two
evils. And many of these voters
would regard it as just retribution
for Vardaman to be defeated by
Bilbo.
1t will be futile, of course, for
Bilbo to hope for complete har.
mony. There is no such thing in
our modern political life. Earl
Brewer, just four years ago, had
an ambition to become peacemak.
er between the factions, and put
an end to factional strife in Miss.
issippi. His administration was
hardly well under way until he
was target for criticism from all
factions. The peacemaker, the
friendly neutral, and the innocent
bystander, often get the worst of
the fray.
However, there is very gener.
al disposition being shown among
his enemies to give Theodore G.
Bilbo square deal. Those who
have opposed him in the past are
sincere in the hope that he will
make good. They cherish that
hope, not merely for Bilbo's sake,
but for Mississippi's sake. They
want to see the State grow and
prosper. They want good laws
on the statute books, and they
want those laws properly enforc.
ed. If they can lend a helping
hand to the new Governor in the
difficult duties he is about to as.
sumo they will be glad to do so.
There will be criticism for the
new administration, of course.
Bilbo may succeed in pleasing his
enemies, but ne surely cannot sat-
isfy his friends. They are too
numerous, too clamorous, too self.
ish, too conflicting in their de-
sires, and have too many ends to
serve. The first criticisms, there.
fore, may be expected from the
men who helped put Bilbo in of.
flee and who have not been given
the reward they hoped to receive.
They will watch him even more
closely than the enemies and their
yelps of discord will be loud and
insistent when they fail to get
what they expected. All former
Governors have encountered this
experience, and Bilbo is not like.
ly to find himself immune from
the rule.
The policies and purposes of the
new administration, as outlined
by Bilbo in several public ad-
dresses, are exceptionally good.
He is thoroughly familiar with the
affairs of the State government,
and is in no sense a stranger to
any of the duties he is about to
assume. The principles he pro.
claims are above criticism, the
measures he advocates will mater
tally aid the moral and material
advancement of our State. To put
them into effect, however, will be
a difficult task, and it will put
the mettle Of the new Governor to
a severe test.
1t can be asserted with absolute
sincerity that Bilbo's enemies wish
him we'll, and have neither dis,
position or desire to place any OBJ
stacles in his path. While some
of them may doubt his ability to
do so, all are hoping that he will
make good. If his friends and
admirers give him loyal support
in carrying out the pledges he has
offered, if they will bear in mind
that there is never pie enough to
satisfy everybody, and will purge
their friendship of all selfish pur.
pose and unworthy motive, there
will be no reason why Theodore
Bilbo cannot discharge his duties
in a manner entirely satisfying to
the people of Mississippi.
The recent speech of Senator
John Sharp Williams shows that
he is really q Sharp John Will
Jams, and people are beginning to
ask if he is to be allowed to mono.
police the ability of the Senate.
Dreaming that you are worth a