Evening star., 1947-11-06
Stennis 5000 Ahead
'0f His Closest Rival
To Succeed BiIbo
BY the Associated Press

JACKSON, Miss, Nov. 6-Almost
complete unofficial returns from
Mississippi's Senate race for the seat
of the late Theodore Bilbo boosted
the sleader, John Cornelius Stennis
to a wider margin over his foul
Democratic and one Republican RI
walls today.
Returns from 1852 of the States
1,7l6 precincts gave the circuit judge
from the small town Of De Kalb so,
809 votes-more than 5000 ahead OF
his closest opponent, Representative
Colmer. Democrat, of Mississippi
with 44.792. Only a plurality is
needed for election.
Representative Rankin, Democrat
of Mississippi was fifth in the six
man field with 24,054 votes.
The count for other candidates on
the basis of returns from the 1852
precincts gave Forrest B. Jackson,
counsel for Senator Bilbo in his fight
against charges of graft and racial
intimidation, 1923; Paul B. john
son, jr., World War II veteran and
son of the late Mississippi Governor,
26 1856, and L. R. Collins, 77-year-
old Republican, 544.
Calls Self conservative"
Mr.. Rankin issued a statement at
Tupelo saying that "A lot of the
people voted against me because
they thought I should stay in the
House of Representatives"
Judge Stennis, self-styled "con-
servative," was called a most color
less candidate even by his friends.
The tall, erect, bespectacled judge
triumphed without hillbilly bands,
without showmanship and without
the usual white supremacy rant
ings which marked the campaigns
of The Man" Bilbo.
Lean, square-jawed and with dark
hair just beginning to turn iron
gray, Judge Stennis looks younger
than his As years. He speaks mildly,
in a restrained manner, with deep
voice that frequently suggests the
pulpit. He was reared in rural
Northeast Mississippi and served
there as district attorney and later
as circuit judge before offering for
the Senate.
AS a jurist he achieved record
of never having case reversed in
the Mississippi appellate courts. He
ignored the challenges of oppo-
nents especially Representative
Rankin, Democrat, of Mississippi,
who shouted defiance to Negro
Communists" and Yankee med
dlers" s"-and those who would have
capitalized on Mississippi's resent
ment against Northern scrutiny of
/ its race relations. Instead he talked
about agriculture, labor relations
and world affairs. Said Judge
StenniS:
1.-The best possible insurance
against isms is to educate and illu-
inmate the minds of our boys and
girls. want to build for Mississippi
I'm for a fair deal for labor and
management. I'm interested in
world peace and favor the United
Nations plan. 1t is not functioning
as it should because of lack of able,
active, courageous leadership on the
part of our Government.
Is States Rights Man.
I'm a States rights man. The
Southern way of life is best for me.
Il asked my father what should
say about the race problem. He said
'Nothing'-and that is what I am
doing"
When President Truman's Com
mittee on Civil Rights recommended
immediate elimination of race segre-
gation-a part of the constitution
OF most Southern States-Judge
Stennis still ignored the issue.
His opponents called the report
IAN insulting demand on the people
of Mississippi" and another effort
to try to tell the South and Mis-
sissippi how to run it's affairs" "
Judge Stennis observed mildly:
"Our customs and traditions may
be assailed, but we can stand firm
in our rights to make our own de-
cisions about such matters"
A lifelong Presbyterian, he Is
chairman of the Board of Deacons
of the De Kalb Presbyterian Church.
He is a Mason and past president
of the De Kalb Lions Club.
In 1928 he married Miss Coy
Hines, New Albany, Miss. They have
two children, John Hampton, H.
and Margaret Jane, 10.