The Pascagoula democrat-star. (Pascagoula, Miss.) 1878-1920, 1899-06-30
'Vardaman'S
Able Speech
Before a Representative Au-
diencc Thursday Night.

Maj. James X. Vardaman, candi-
date for governor, addressed a rcpre-
sentative crowd OF citizens Of this
place and vicinity last Thursday night
10 the courthouse. Lieutenant r. l..
Billiard introduced the speaker In
glowing terms, as a soldier, patriot
and statesman. He was with Mai.
Var1aman at Santiago, and could tes-
tify that the Major was a true, val
liant soldier beloved by all who were
under his command. His remarks
were we'll timed and brought forth ap-
plause. Quite a number OF ladies
were present, and seemed TO enjoy lis.
tening to the speaker.
Major Vardaman Is a brilliant and
eloquent speaker, profound thinker
and reasoner, and is one OF the purest
Democrats and cleanest candidates
now in the race for Governor.
Major Vardaman began his speech
by discussing az some length the ques-
tion OF expansion, saying he was OPP
posed to this government acquiring
any more territory and that such a
thing as Americanizing either Cuba,
Puerto Rico or the Philippines would
never be realized. The Major was
loud in his praise of the volunteer
soldier, and said this country had no
earthly use for a large standing army
or the professional soldier; that it was
the volunteer soldier who led the
charge up San Juan hill and that it
was the volunteer who fought the bat
ties OF the civil war. He favored the
r%c.adoption of the Chicago platform
word for word and letter for letter,
and declared himself as for William
jennings Bryan as the standard bear
err of the Democratic party IN 1900.
Passing to State issues, the speaker
declared for an elective judiciary, say.
ing lie had unlimited confidence in the
judgment and competency of the pee
pie and thought they were fully able
to elect their judges. He dwelt at
some length on the Ubiquitous work.
ings of the present school laws and
favored a radical change in the system
now in vogue, especially us to the dis
tributiOn of the school fund. In the
matter of State educational institu-
tions, he favored liberal appropria-
tions for the support Of same, but
would hold them to a rigid economy
in all departments, and declared him.
self as favOring the building a new
State capitol commensurate with the
needs Of the State. He believed in
encouraging the location of factories
and capital in the State, but not at
the expense Of other taxpayers, and
favored equal taxation for the rich
and poor. As t6Confederate soldiers,
Major Vardaman favors a more liber-
al pension and would give them at
least 800 a year instead Of $IS, which
they now receive. He paid Il beauti-
fnl tribute to the heroes of 1865. Mai.
Vardaman then INDUCED in "A few re.
marks personal to himself, reviewing
his record as a lawyer, a member OF
Legislature and as a newspaper man.
He paid his respects to those WHO
claim him as a factiOnal candidate
and said that, as the editor OF a pub
lie newspaper, he had done only that
which his conscience had dictated to
be the right. He considered it to be
the duty Of the press to tell the truth
and state the facts at all times, no
matter where the responsibility fell;
that II elected governor, it would be
his chief aim to return the Office to
the people, after serving the four
years, as clean, unsoiled and unsullied
as when he accepted the commission;
that he would not use the functions
of the office to perpetuate himself in
Office, nor would he use it to reward
political friends.
Major Vardaman holds some rather
unique views with regard to the
school question. He is emphatically
OF the opinion that the popular idea
that education for the negro will solve.
all our race problems in this and other
States is q bad mistake. On the con.
trary, he thinks that education of the
negro has had and Will continue to
have the effect OF rendering the prob
lem more. difficult Of solution. Il am
opposed to, educating the negro" he
stated, "but If it must, be done, l
think the method OF apportionment
OF the public school fund SHOULD at
least be sGamended as not to discrim.
mate in favor of the negro against
the white people Of the State"
Major'V ardaman talked entertain
ingly OF his military experience In
Cuba, and especially of the insight
into the Cuban character that he got
as president of Court Of Claims. He
thinks the natives incapable Of self.
government, and says that he thinks
the property owners and better class
OF the population are in favor of an.
nexation anyway, but AK deferred
from expressing their opinions on the
subject publicly from fear Of the ma.
iOrity.