The commonwealth. (Greenwood, Miss.) 1896-1923, 1898-12-02
rELL,ThE MHoLE TRuTH.

LNAlN HN@~% HetFs
OUR attention has been called to a statement 10 the Herald Of this H.
that two 1.-THE three or four papers published at Greenwood, the home \
Mai Vardamaa, are against him for governor involving the suggestion tf
these papers which supported him 90 the last gubematoHal race. are ~
to do with the reflection Intentionally or otherwise that the Enterprise and
Delta Fao arr influenced by the preenceo or absence Of asna. 3 Il ~ ~
there support Is placed, farther than t0say, that ia 50 far as the Entep5e
is concerned, we believe it, Ifs RatuitOus SANDER AS being our friend and
now ia distant country 10 defence OF his co1ntrys honor as he believes
we have much to do with The effort 70 use this 70 make capital against Mai.
Vardaman. Let the whole tuthbe told and no man in this state is more
ready to meet and facet record. Mr. Vadaman may or may not be very
popular in his home secton-be this as Il may, he is not the first good man
of whom il might be said Inc was not without honor save i'm his own city.
We submit as proposition that cannot be successfully contoyertod, CHAT
the motive and animus behind a statement or act has much to do in d.
termInlug the honesty or dishonesty Of that statement or act Then again
a half truth is worse than lie having in it the PRINCIPLES that would use
the livery Of heaven t serye the imps Of he'll. We know nothing Of the
Delta Flag but Of the Enterprise, whose editor we are proud to cali friend.
we do know something and neither Mr., Gillespie nor MAJ, Vardaman has
any cause, sofar as has come from any reputable source, to shirk the record
The facts stand that in 1895 the Enterprise was supporting Nj, yardaman
and in 1898 is not, but why not tell the whole story? In 1896 Vardaman
was a afoWneF with the present proprietor for atleast part Of the canvass;
ISL Il any wonder then that the paper supported him? During the term Of
the present executive Of the state while Nardaman has been a severe critic
of the governor Gillespie has been one Of his Warmest supporters. Can ay
Mr. Vardaman-tod do SO would be to sulttfY himseE We happen to know
that the differences existing between these gentlemen are ola personal and
political nature and involve the character OF neither The Herald has
delighted to slur at Mai Vardaman, and when called upon in plain unelur
oal terms to tell the 'storyn in its fulness aud detail has tackled tail and
taken to the woods. The writer is no apoogst for Nh. Yardamanh aught
he may have done thatis wrong, but we are his friend and believe in him
and we have yet to find a man who would say in a manly, straightforward
way that there was a STAIN of dishouor on his life. Weappealto no mans
sympathies but we do appeal to their principles irrespective Of their personal
feelings towards Nh. Vardaman, and submit is there anything in this war
fare Of slurring and then running, to commend itself to honorable men?
Every good man honors a manly foe, every decent man desptses a taducer
and a sneak-Bnoi Review.
The Herald editor takes great delight in saying cutting things against
Mr. yrdaman, but when other papers open up on him he closes up like a
terrapn and with fire or hot water poured on his back by an editor sup
porter Of Yardaman he will not come out again until the time and oppo-
tunity suits. If we mistake not, this prtnter-now editor worked for Mr..
Vardaman last year and knows fun we'll the cause Of existing relations be-
tween Mr. Gillespie, Of the Enterprise, and Maj Vardanan. Again, Mr.
Gilespes support Of McLaurln, Mr.. Mckee says would prevent mis- support
of Mr. Vardaman, even should he 50 desire. But running over che files Of
the Enterprise of 1916, when MI. Gillespie owned aud edited the paper we
clip the following;
"Mlssbslppans will sustain their reputation as sensible men and pati-
OTIS by electing VaTdaman for GOVERNOR
Now, we ask the Herald, has Yardaman changed in that time? And If
he was that kind Of a man then, is he not now? The change is in the editor
Of the Enerprse-for then he was like Mr. Vadaman, giving McLaurin-
ism-what it deserves. His paper at that time will bear us out in the as
sertion that he said nearly as hard things against Anse or the Clan as did
Mr.. Vardaman before and since. The difference was IN the wording Of ex-
preston but for some unseen cauSe-and it cannot be on the part Of Me-
Laurlns worthy deeds-he has changed and today be is supporting McLaur-
intsm. This is Mr.. Gillespie right and we think none the less Of him for
IT, Personal matters hayea great deal to do with ones feeling and the
non-suppot Of both the Enterprise and the Delta Flag no doubt can be
traced to its door Grit may be that in Judge Longino they zee d more
competent and worthy man for this once.
Nov, Mr., Evans you worked for Mr. Yardaman and II you have evil
deuce to prove he is unworthy for the place, come out with it, Ifhe is not
a good man, why did you apply again to him this year for a position Draw
the dagger Of opposition from your coat sleeve and let him have the whole
blade or put it ia it's scabbard forever