The Pascagoula democrat-star. (Pascagoula, Miss.) 1878-1920, 1900-06-08
vARDAMAN CONVENTION.
Bryan Endorsed Platform Adopted
Republican Administration and
Imperialism Denounced.

u WI 'dli " ttN'tp
that representatives from twenty nine
counties of the State were in their
seats in answer to the call for the Con-
vention issued some time ago by Maj
Vardaman and indorsed largely by the
press. Following is a list OF the coun-
ties thus represented: Alfalfa, Ben
ton, Carroll, Claiborne, Copiah, Frank
lin, Hancock, Harrison, Kinds,
Holmes, Jackson, Lafayette, Leake,
Leflore, Madison, Marshall, Monroe,
Montgomery, Pamela. Pike. Pontotnc.
Scott, Suntiower, Tippah, Tlshomin.
go, Union, Washington, Yalobuslla
and Yazno. The number Of counties
in the State unrepresented either by
regular or irregular delegates was
fOrty-SiX.
AT 1915 Major Vardaman assembled
the speakers stand and called the
convention to order. He said that it
was with no o%rdinary pleasure that he
greeted the delegates on this occasion.
Their presence here manifested an ~
terest in the welfare and integrity of
the Democratic party in the State.
The assemhlage vas not PROMPTED by
any factional spirit, by a desire to
a'enge any. political injuries. The
purpose Of the convention was, he
said, to settle difficulties in order that
the Democratic party Of Mississippi
might be cemented and held together.
He expressed the hope that What vas
done would have this sole object in
view. All, he said, were familiar with
the causes that led tn the assembling
OF the convention. 1t was the desire
of many OF the Democrats OF the State
that the executive committee could
be induced to reconsider It's action and
call a convention which might repre-.
sent to the fullest the sentiments OF
the people, Of the State. The commit.
tee, however, had refused to do this.
The reason for this God Almighty and
a few people in the State alone knew.
Its refusal he designated as the most
remarkable disregard of the wishes of
the people that had ever character.
lied the action Of any political party.
Ire expressed himself as believing in
party organization as absolutely nee
eSSary il principles were ever to be
put in practice. The integrity of the
organization OF the Democratic party
in The State must be maintained. The
convention did not propose to repu-
date the action Of the State commit
tee . tn bolt in any sense. But If
there was a negro in the w00dpile'' in
the action OF the committee the Dur.
pose OF the convention was TO block
the game and render the execution of
any such plan impossible. Major Var
dalnen dWelt upon the necessity for
the selection OF The very best men to
represent the party at Kansas City.
a platform should also be adopted
upon which those nominees might
stand. lie hoped aspirit Of conscrya.
tism would prevail; that no principle
should be violated or compromised.
however. He hoped the ticket would
receive the appreciation of the sover-
eign people at the primary on June q.
Although not here as bolters. the
delegates were here to protest against
what seemed TO be a usnrpatiun of
power on tile part Ut the committee.
lie said that the next question was
the selection Of Il permanent chair.
man.
Hon. Elton Bowers placed DR.. w. L.
KERN, OF Holmes county, In nomina-
tiun as chairman.
DR.. KERN was elected unanimously.
and was conducted to the chair, where
he assumed the gavel.
lie was roundly applauded as he be-
gan a few Introductory remarks after
having been presented by Major Var.
daman. DIR. KERN returned his thanks
for the honor OF being chosen chair
man OF the convention. He had not
sought the honor, n0r desired it. He
had passed that age when political
h0nors were sweet. Nothing brought
him here to-day and induced him to
lake part in the convention hut a
sense OF public duty. The action OF
the committee had been so unprece-
denied, such IL violation Of the prima.
ry law, that 1t is plain that something
must be done. The storm was sure TO
break and the convention had assem-
Dled to render the storm as harmless
to the public welfare as possible. The
committee had set an example of dis
obedience to the law. 1t had denied
the people of the State the right to
express their opinions on questions of
national import in any shape or form.
The people were also denied the right
10 instruct these delegates His pred.
etcessor in the chair had already out
lined the purpose of the convention
and ne would detain the meeting no.
longer.
Nominations for secretary of the
convention were declared in order.
Col. J. l.. Power, Of Kinds county. and
Mr.. j. Il. Mcclure, of Yaz0o county,
were nominated and elected secretary
and assistant secretary. respectively.
J. +. McCool, J. X. Vardaman and
5. M. Smith were appointed On the
committee on resolutions from the
State-at-large.
The following members were select
ed from the districts First District,
Z. .. Eckford Second District, Geo.
Meyers Third, s. b. Neal I; Fourth,
W. S. Hill; Fifth, j. W. George;
Sixth, J.. IL. Neville; Seventh, r. II.
Henry.
The delegates from the different
congressional districts got together
and recommended that the following
nominations for national delegates
and presidential electors from those
districts +:
First District--W. II. Clifton and
D. w. Houston, delegates ; J. A. T..
Pyle and Murphy Thomas, alternates;
z. p. Landrum, elcctor.
Second District--H. E. Nlakesly, OF
Union, and Y. T. Still, OF Tate, dele
gates /; w. w. Perkins, OF Pamela. and