The Grenada sentinel. [volume] (Grenada, Miss.) 1868-1955, 1922-06-09
PREFERRED NEGROES
TO C%ARPETBAGGERS
JUDGE STEPHENS TELLS OF RE.
CONSTRUCTION PROBLEMS.

vote cast at that time by Judge z. M
Stephens, who was a member OF the
Legislature, has prompted Judge
Stephens to address a letter to az,
Senator Vardaman concerning his
record during that Legislature and
subsequently.
Judge Stephens, who is the father
of Hon. Hubert ID. Stephens, one OF
Wardanan's opponents for tie United
States Senate, charges that the re-
peated reference to the incident
shows cOnclusively that Vardaman is
attempting to use it as political capt.
tai against his son, and says, I'm
JUSTICE to my sol and myself | feel
it my duty to take cognizance Of the
matter"
The letter Of Judge Stephens is in
full as follows:
New Albany. Miss. May %. 1922. Hon.
Jas. X. Vardaman, Jackson. Miss.
Dear Sir:
In your paper of Jan. II. 1922. you had
an ed torial in which reference was made
to the e ection Of b. X. Bruce. a negro, to
the United states Senate. and my record
in that matter. Again. in your paper OF
April 81. 1922. you had an editorial on
the same subject
While you say, Whatever Stephens
father may have done in no way affects
Stephens fitness for the position of
United States senator" yet your reference
to 1t not only once but the second time,
shows conclusivelt that you are attempt
ing to use it as political capita against
my son. Hubert D.. Stephens. For that
reason, in justice to my son and myself. l
feel it my duty to take cOgnizance of the
matter.
At the time OF the election to which
you refer, The Weekly Clarion" pub
liShed at Jackson. was the leading Demo-
cratic paper in the state. Its publishers
were Maj E. Barksdale and Col. j. L.
Power. both Of whom were strong Demo- |
Gratis and Confederate soldiers. In an ed |
itorial in that paper. dated Jan. 20. 1874, |
you will find that it was stated that there
was no chance for a Democrat to be elect |
cd to the Senate. and that The contest
II between carpetbaggers and colored Re-
publicans. For ourselves we had
rather trust the fortunes of the state to
colored men. who are permanently here.
and 'racy Of the soil than to the advent |
urers."
In just a week the election was held
and the result was announced in that
Democratic paper, but those Democratic
editors and Confederate veterans did not
utter one single word Of criticism Of those
who voted for Bruce. They understood
the situation; they knew that many good
Confederate soldiers. facing an unplsas-
ant political situation, voted for Bruce,
because they believed it was the best
thing to do under the circumstances.
Capt. j. S. McNeily Of Vicksburg, In
an article on Reconstruction in Missis-
sippi,' discussing the election Of negroes
over ca~rpetbaggers, said, The far-sesing
perceived in 1t the gradual crowdinG out
d the carpetbaggers a process that was
sure to hasten the end OF Republican
rule in the state.
negroes for the Senate at that time were
afterwards honored frequently by being
given high positions in the Democratic
p %srSs i and enc sr of them snx 20 years :, after ter
elected to the United States Senate
In 1878 one wing Of the Republican
party indorsed Ames for governor. the
The Democrats did not have a ticket, but
Alcorn and his ticket. There were
negroes on both the Ames and Alcorn
voted In that election voted for a negro.
Being a Democrat, l voted for Alcorn and
his ticket.
That those familiar with my record
the conditions that prompted my ac-
ton did not censure me for 1t. Is shown
by my later political history.
In 1888 was a candidate for floatsf
representative for the counties of Ponto-
toe and Union. and was elected by an
vote. There We're only Is
votes out Of several hundred cast against
at my home precinct. This was only
nine years after the election Of Bruce,
when that matter was fresh in the minds
q the people and every one OF them was
thoroughly familiar with my record.
In 1884 1 was the Democratic presi-
elector from my congressional dis
'rict, and campaigneu with Senator La
mar.
In 1888 1 was a candidate tor Congress
md carried the counties Of Benton, Mar
hall, Tippah and Union. You refer to
Judge j. w: c. Watson as being one Of
n 1874. Judge Watson was one Of the
sading men and Democrats of the state.
IL knsw my record. but was my friend
In 1851 / was appointed circuit 1udss
" Gov. MoLAurin. and my appointment
vas confirmed without being referred to
1 have been a delegate to the national
)emocratic convention, and thsre was
OF a single state Democratic convention
1874 until the state changed to the
system that l did not attend a.
delegate.
Since the vote to which you refer was
asst I have been q candidate for office
Dur times, and / never lost a single pre-
met In my home county, Union, except
~ one No. election rno, my opponent carried his
The records show that In 1918. when
Oh were a candidate for reelection to
Senate, you lost every one Of the "a
recincts In your home county, Kinds,
nd that there were 1898 votes cast
gainst you n only 476 votes for you.
t the same election in LeFlore County,
here you lived many years, there were
q votes against you and only 204 votes
II you.
1 have called attention to my political
cord that you and the public may know
at my democracy has never been Quss-
onsd by my home people,. / want to say !
rther. that both my father and only |
other were Confederate soldiers; and !
at while l was too young to be in the
VII War, yet / did my part in recon :
days to rid the state Of carpet !
lsgerS and negro rule in politics, I
at i AVE always been active in my sf- {
rts to build up the state in every way. I
l am now an old man. but when the time {
mes for me to go out into another :
orld, I can do so with the full conscious. 6
- OF the fact that l viii leave behind :
q record for having always paid my 6
bts, for having been faithful to MP E
mily and friends. and for having been E