Macon beacon. [volume] (Macon, Miss.) 1859-1995, 1917-02-09
Promise OF a Mississippi Politi.
cal Sensation

Vicksburg Herald:
A prospectus of the promised
Hobbs VS.. Bilbo book in the
Jackson News by the we'll known
newspaper correspondent, W. D.
Robinson, says:
The book is being written
| by Senator Hobbs, who is in
Memphis, Tenn, and will be
ready for distribution in the
near future. It will un-
doubtedly create a political
sensation in this state when
it appears. = The atti-
tude of the anti Bilbo leaders
seems to be one of keen en-.
joyment. The spectacle of
Bilbo and Hobbs fighting
each other excites their
mirth. They appear willing
to give the combatants all Of
the room they need to carry
on the fight.
There is nothing that Hobbs
can say that will place his for
mer pal, Bilbo, in a more offens.
i've and disreputable light with
- :, st and intelligent men, than
= : >1iccusations of grating and
crookedness that were sworn to
before the courts and the legisla-
ture by witnesses of good stand
ing and unquestioned veracity.
He was nevertheless. if. not all
the more. elected governor of
the state. Unless the Hobbs
sensation can implant shame
and repentance in those who
were so unfaithful to the record
and good name of the state as to
place such person in the gov
ernor's office, The Herald is one
"anti-BiIboite" who anticipates
the fight between the pair of
Worthies-arcades ambo = with
no enjoyment; and no hope of
good, except that it may, in time,
verify the saying that when
thieves fall out honest men
come to their own.''
BILBO'S CAUsTIC COMMENT
When asked if he had any COM
ment to make on the announce
ment by Senator Hobbs that he
was writing a book, Governor
Bilbo replied:
About all that l have to
say is that | feel like ex-
claiming, in the language of
King Solomon of old, oh
would that mine enemy write
a book"
But there is no evidence that
Solomon of old"-nor yet Job,
to whom the quotation is cor.
rectly attributed-ever prayed
that his fellow CRATER would
turn states evidence. "The lit
tie piney woods devil" will find
no proof in sacred or profane
writing. of any good man plum
ing himself upon the betrayal of
a friend. It was King David of
old who poured out the bitterest
anguish Of his soul upon such be-
trayal: 1T was not my enemy
that reproached me. Then I
could have borne it. But it was
thou, mine own familiar friend,
in whom | trusted, which did
eat Of my bread, hath lifted up
his heel against me-"
Declaring it was his intention
to ignore Senator Hobbs and his
book after it was published,
Governor Bilbo thus seeks to
forestall it:
have endeavored to deal
justly and fairly with Hobbs
and l think that l have done
so. | helped him out of his
trouble in the Castleman
case by paying all Of his ex-
penses. My friends and
myself paid all Of Hobbs
expenses in the trial at
Vicksburg, including his at
torneys' fees and hotel, cigar
and laundry bills. The trial
did not cost him a cent, and
he never at any time offered
to reimburse me or any one
else. l had sympathy for
Hobbs, AMI during my cam
paign for governor he was
given employment at my
headquarters at a salary of
SIS per month. | paid him
for his services and have his
receipt in full. After my
election Hobbs wanted to be
my secretary, get his feet
into the public trough and
have a hand in running the