Evening star., 1946-12-06

ito dissuade Negroes from voting In
the Democratic primary, he always
specified lawful means" As many
newspaper clippings were read to
him, the Senator said some Of them
had quoted him incompletely by
omitting the phrase lawful means.
Denies Urging Horse Whipping"
Senator Bilbo denied he recon-
mended 'horse whipping" for out
side organizers who came into Mis-
sissippi to threaten white supremacy.
He said, however, he did urge that
they be ridden out of town on a
rail. He paused to observe that they
were white men.
One reason why more Negroes did
not try to vote in the Democratic
primary, Senator Bilbo argued, was
that Perry Howard, Republican ma
tional committeeman for Missis-
sippi, had been quoted in a colored
newspaper as urging them not to.
Senator Hickenlooper asked SEN
ator Bilbo If he once said Repre-
sentative Clare Booth Luce, Repub-
lican, of Connecticut was the great
est Negro-lover in the North, except
Eleanor Roosevelt.
81 said that-thats true" Senator
Bilbo replied.
One of the Bilbo quotations that
figured prominently in the hearing
was the statement attributed to him
that the way to keep Negroes from
participating in Democratic pri-
maries was to visit them the night
before the election.
Senator Bilbo said that when he
appeared on the Meet the Press
radio program in August, the news
papermen 'on the program tried to
make him say that statement was
a form of intimidation.
r "It was not" he contended.
Meant Discussion of Issue.
When Senator Hickenlooper took
issue on this point, Senator Bilbo
said that in the North he guessed
it would be interpreted as meaning
''to beat them up," but he insisted
he meant only for the people to go
and talk the issue over with the
Negroes. He said the testimony
showed that was done in some COM
munities.
Senator Hickenlooper said he had
been informed that Republican
organization in Mississippi named
a slate of candidates and filed the
proper certificates, but that the
Republicans names were not printed
on the ballots and the certifying
papers could not be found.
IT never heard that. I was busy
keeping up with the Democrats" !"
Senator Bilbo replied.
In answer to questions from his
own lawyer. Forrest Jackson, Sena-
tor Bilbo denied he ever urged any
violation of law, or any violence
against Negroes.
Among the witnesses called for
Senator Bilbo were:
Bidwell Adam, who was Lieuten-
ant Governor when Senator Bilbo
was Governor. He testified there
was less mob violence then than in
any administration.
Defended by COP Voter.
Ben F. Cameron of Meridian, who
described himself as an independ-
ent who has voted Republican since
1928. He said he thinks Senator
Bilbo's record has been in accord
with the traditions of the State.
j. F. Barbour, a former circuit
judge, who said he did not believe
Senator Bilbo melted any violence.
Mr.. Barbour said he is not Bilbo
man, but favors him when he isl
right and opposes him when he is
wrong.
H. H. Creekmore, who also an
he has never been Bilbo
supporter. He said he thinks the
statements attributed to Senator
Bilbo during the campaign were
intended to get unthinking white
citizens to vote for him"
His opponents held the same
,iews, but Bilbo was smart enough
% point it up, and get the benefit
# it," Mr.. Creekmore added. |
George j. Butler, a former presi-
lent of the Mississippi Bar Asso-
,iation, and member of the State
Democratic Executive Committee,
Negroes had legal right
% vote, If otherwise qualified, but
said he had never heard of more
han two white persons in the State
who wanted them to take part in
Democratic primaries. He indicated
he was referring to two of the SO
signers to the petition on which
The Senate Committee ordered the
hearings.
Furthr Testimony Banned.
After the hearings were adjourned
by Chairman Ellender, Emanuel
Bloch, attorney for the Civil Rights
Congress, told reporters a demand
would be made for an additional
public hearing in Washington.
Senator E1lender had already in.