St. Paul recorder. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1934-2000, 1946-12-27
Corruption In Mississippi
Politics Exposed By
BilbO Quiz Witnesses
By LOUIS LAUTIER

WASHINGTON, D. c., Dec
&c (NNPA)-The low stand
ard of moral conduct in poll.
tics and church in Mississippi
was thoroughly aired before
the Senate war investigating
committee which has been probing
in.o charges that Senator Theo-
dore G. Bilbo aided Mississippi
contractors to obtain Army con-
tracts and accepted gratuities from
them.
Forrest Jackson, Bilbo's attor-
ney, last Tuesday gave his version
of the conference he, BilbO and
Robert Candy, a Bilbo henchman,
had with Ross Collins, former Mis-
sissippi Representative, who is one
Of those responsible for Bilbo's be-
ing brought to judgment by his
Senate colleagues.
The conference was held follow
ing the Mississippi white Demo-
cratic primary Of 1910, in which
Mr.. Collins was eliminated. It's
purpose was to get Mr.. Collins
and his organization to support
the candidacy Of Wall Doxey, now
Senate sergeant-at-arms, in a run
of primary against Senator James
o. Eastland.
Mr.. Jackson testified that when
BilbO asked Mr.. Collins to sup
port DOxey, Mr.. Collins told
BilbO he had lied all over Mis-
sissippi about him and he would
issue a statement to the press
but refused TO let BilbO see the
statement before its publication.
Nothing was said in Mr.. Collins
presence about any consideration,
but Mr.. Jackson said Mr.. Collins
told the group that any other mat
tiers relative to the activities Of
his organization in the Tun-of pTi-
mary were to be taken up with
Cecil Travis, his campaign man
ager.
Earlier testimony was TO the ef-
feet that Travis had been paid
$1,000 to swing the support Of
the Collins organization to Mr..
Doxey. Mr.. Jackson testified that
his recollection Of the deal was con-
trary TO that Of Travis. He said
the understanding was that Travis
had spent in the first primary in
support Of Mr.. Collins candidacy
about $500 and that the additional
$500 was necessary to pay ten
men $3.50 each to work in the sec
ond primary.
Mr.. Travis had told the commit
tee that the $1l 900 was to finance
work in the run-of primary and
Mr.. Collins had no operating def
cit" from his campaign.
"How do you get around the Mis-
sissippi corrupt practices act by
collecting more than can be legally
spent for any one campaign?"
Senator Homer Ferguson, Republi-
can, Of Michigan, asked Mr.. Jack
son.
"Under the act ITSELF" Mr.. Jack
son replied, 1--WE can spend $4,000"
"Why didn't you make a return
under the corrupt practices act ?"
Senator Ferguson asked.
Because we don't so understand
that a return is required" Mr..
Jackson replied.
Under Mr.. Jackson's interpreta-
tion Of the Mississippi corrupt
practices act a candidate may have
on the outside thousands Of com
mittees expanding hundreds Of
thousands Of dollars and none Of
these committees except the candi-
dates small official committee
would have to make a return.
what good is an act like that?"
Senator Ferguson asked.
II don't think II is any good"
Mr.. Jackson replied. Its like the
Hatch Act"
The unofficial committee which
aided Mr.. Doxey'S campaign and
which consisted Of Bilbo. Jackson
and Candy is the group to which
Bilbo claims he turned over $50, 900
in contributions he received from
war contractors. The $ll 900 pay
ment to Mr.. Travis was said to be a
part Of the disbursements made
from this $4,000 slush fund.
Mr.. Jackson also testified that
he gave Edward Terry, Bilbo's
former secretary, a check for 81 100 .
that Terry claimed was due him for
expenses he had incurred in con
nection with BilbO's campaign in
1910. Mr.. jackson said he also
gave Mr.. Terry other sums Of
money which the latter claimed