The vidette. (Iuka, Tishomingo County, Miss.) 1912-1967, 1922-06-08
PREFERRED NEGROES
TO CARPETBAGGERS
JUDGE STEPHENS TELLS OF RE.
CONSTRUCTION PROBLEMS.

the election in 1874 of B r. Bruce
to the United States Senate and the
vote cast at that time by Judge u. M.
| Stephens, who was member of the
| Legislature, has prompted Judge
| stephens to address a letter to ex-
| Senator Vardaman concerning his
record during that Legislature and
subsequently
Judge Stephens, who is the father
of Hon. Hubert ID. Stephens, one of
Vardaman's opponents for the United
| States Senate, charges that the re-
| peated reference to the incident
shows conclusively that Vardaman is
| attempting to use 1t as political capi-
tai against his son, and says, ''in
Justice to my son and myself | feel
ii my duty to take cognizance of the
matter"
The letter OF Judge Stephens is in
full as follows:
New Albany Miss, May 2s, 1922. Hon.
JAS K. vardaman, Jackson, Miss.
Dear Sir:
In your paper Of Jan. 12, 1922. you had
an editorial in which reference was made
to the election 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 it not only once but the second time.
shows conclusively that you are attempt
ing to use it as political capital against
my son. Hubert ID. Stephens. For that
reason, in justice to my son and myself,
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. ]. l.,
Power, both of whom were strong Demo-
Gratis and Confederate soldiers. In an ed
itorial in that paper, dated Jan. 29, 1874,
you will find that it was stated that there
was no chance for Democrat to be elect
ed to the Senate, and that The contest
is between carpetbaggers and colored Re-
puhicans. 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
white men, some of whom were gallant
Confederate soldiers. facing an unpleas-
ant political situation, voted for Bruce.
h.,.a thnu hali
thing to do under the circumstances.
Capt ]. S. McNely of Vicksburg, in
an article on Reconstruction in MissiS-
sppi." discussing the election OF negroes
over carpetbaggers, said, The far-seeing
perceived in it the gradual crowding out
OF the carpetbaggers i 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
party and one of them 20 years after
wards lacked only a few votes of being
elected to. the United States Senate.
In 1873 one wing CT the Republican
party indorsed Ames for governor, the
other wing indogsed Alcorn for that office.
The Democrats did not have a ticket, but
indorsed Alcorn and his ticket. There were
negroes on both the Anes and Alcorn
voted in that election voted for negro.
Being Democrat, voted for Alcorn and
his ticket.
That those familiar with my record
and 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 floater
representative for the counties OF Ponto-
toe and Union, and vas vas elected by an az
votes out OF several hundred cast against
me at my home precinct This was only
nine years after the election Of Bruce.
xt,I,1 4haf mat tats xsrae in mir
of the people and every one of them was
thoroughly familiar with my record.
In 1884 / was the Democratic presi-
trict, and campaigneu with Senator La
mar.
In 1883 1 was a candidate for Congress
and carried the counties of Benton, Mar
Judge ]. w. c. Watson being one of
the men that was voted for for the Senate
in 1874. Judge Watson was one Of the
leading men and Democrats OF the state.
He knew my record, but was my friend
and supporter in that campaign.
In 1891 | was appointed circuit judge
by Gov. McIaurin. and my appointment
was confirmed without being referred to
committee.
l have been delegate to the national
Democratic convention, and there was
not a single state Democratic convention
| from 1874 until the state changed to the
| primary system that / did not attend as
| q delegate.
| cast l have been a candidate for office
| four times, and / never lost a single pre-
| cinct in my home county, Union, except
| at one election my opponent carried his
| own voting precinct.
| The records show that in 1915 when
| you were candidate for reelection tc
| the Senate you lost every one Of the q
| precincts In your home county, Hinds
and that there We're f,9sS votes cast
against you and only 4T6 votes for you
At the same election in LeFlore County
| xsrha lfyQ1 there W4rl
653 votes against you and only 204 votes
for you.
| have called attention to my politica
record that you and the public may know
that my democracy has never been ques-
toned by my home people. want to sal
further. that both my father and only
brother were Confederate soldiers; anf
that while | was too young to be in the
| Civil War, yet / did my part in recon-
struction days to rid the state OF carpet.
baggers and negro rule in politics. and
forts TO build up the state in every way.
/ am now an old man. but when the time
comes for me to so out into another
world, can 40 so with the full conscious
ness OF the fact that ! will leave behind
me record for having always paid my
debts, for having been faithful to my
family and friends, and for having been
true and loyal to my party and my gov
ernment
In conclusion, permit me to suggest that
your political iture must be very dark
4 and gloomy, that your political situation
must be very desperate, for you TO 90
back more than As years to find sone-
thing In my record to criticize. Hubert
| b. Stephens was not born until Is months