The Bolivar County Democrat., 1919-08-23
on oino Says Johnston the
Leader While Russell the
Trailer in the Assault on Him


sympathizer of negro rapists of
white women in order to destroy
me in the estimation o! the people
and by such false and despicable
methods to advance their own poll
tical interest. Both are equally
culpable in that regard, and If
there was any difference in their
activities Russell was the trailer
and Johnston the leader.
In your said editorial you say
further that the stuff was made
prominent by Vardaman's Weekly
and that Russell took up the Lon.
gino Record and used it for all 1t
was worth, in his speeches and
literature.
Was it not more reasonable to
expect that Russell would have
resorted to these methods with his
known political dislike to all the
men of any prominence in the anti.
|Vardaman faction than that 10 hn-
ston should have done so? And
did not all anti-Vardaman people
have right to anticipate for me
fair and manly treatment from
Oscar Johnston and his friends.
with whom l have stood shoulder
to shoulder in all the fights against
Russell and his faction1 If, there
fore, it be true. as you seem to
think it is. that the nti-Vardaman
faction would suffer for the lack
of interest in Johnston.s election
on the part of those who would
not vote for him in the first pri-
mary, then put the blame where
it properly belongs and not on me
and my friends.
As to the statement of your said
editorial that Johnston never used
said unfair means. and that they
were not promulgated through his
his campaign committee. permit
me to remind you that in this bold
unqualified ufterance you do ypnr-
self injustice. no doubt due 70 bad
fnemory. Bv simply turning back
to the columns of your paper
(Which has in the past merited the
reputation of being fair in all
things and an honor to journalism
In Mississippi) you will be con-
vinced Of your error In making
such a sweeping disclaimer for
your candidate.
In the Clarion. Ledger of June
80, 1919. is to be found over the
signature of Oscar Johnston him
self, the principal charges which
were used by him, as basis for
what you term my negro record"
Again refreshing your memory l
ask you to refer to the columns of
your paper July 4, under large
display headlines where is fonnd
what purported to be an affidavit
of one John Barffeld of date July.
20, 1908, saying that the negro
(Nance) pardoned by Longino was
guilty of assault" If this was not
printed byyou on the authority of
"Johnston or his headquarters"
then may ask how or why it ap-
peared3 1t is unthinkable that
such publication was the mere gra-
tuitous act of yours. OF anyone
else connected with your paper.
Knowing as you did that this was
the same affidavit that was used
against me in my campaign for the
United States Senate In 1908.
whe n you were familiar with all
the iacts and with the reasons
which led to the pardon of Nance
ami when your paper at that time
came boldly to my defense and
condemned in unmeasured terms
the injustice of such an assault
made on me in the matter, l am
sure you did not and could not
voluntarily have brought the mat
ter forward SO many years alter
wards of your own accord to do
me hurt. No my dear Colonel
Henry, 1t must be admitted by you
that this publication found its way
into oui yaper through the efforts
OF Johnston and his campaign
headquarters and is but another
evidence OF the lapse of your men,
ory. Again your editorial state
ment that Johnston in his cam