Okolona messenger. (Okolona, Miss.) 1900-current, 1903-04-29

II ~ 10 I'll WuO nave AOp0 up WIN
the trend of public sentiment in
the state, it has been maniesty certain that Major
Vardaman is today good as nominated In the first
primary. The attitude Of all three OF his opponents
toward him has demonstrated this fact.
Even if all the supporters Of Mr.. Fox could be
delivered like so many sheep to one or the other OF
Major Vardaman's opponents, it could make little
difference in the result. But this hope Of the Oppo-
sitiOn is idle as it is but natural that Major Varda-
man is the second choice with as many former Fox
supporters as either Of the other two gentlemen run
ming. Some very prominent men, in fact, notably
among whom may be mentioned Hon. Shed Hill,
congressman elect from the Third district, would
have been for Vardaman from the start, except for
political obligations to Mr. Fox which they were too
manly to disregard. In this connection, it may be
remembered that OF the strongest arguments Of
fered by Mr. Fox in his Short but brilliant canvass
was his permission to announce that Mr.. Hill was
supporting him for Governor.
OF course the politicians will strive to make much
out Of Mr. FOx's declinatiOn to further but the
fact remains that the gentleman has demonstrated
his political sagacity by getting out OF bad mess at
this early day. His canvass, opened with glare OF
trumpets, and encouraged by strong combination
OF men who feel they are commissioned to say
thumbs up OF thumbs down in state matters, has
been an uphill pull throughout. The gentleman
was not home from Washington many days, from
which point he had wired his announcement as a
candidate for Governor, before he was thoroughly
convinced that the "demand from the plOw, the pull
pit and the bench" had run amuck of a snag some
where on it's voyage and jagged an ugly hole in its
hull. In other words, the excOngressman soon be-
came aware, after he began making his speeches,
that he was up against the real thing now, and his
speeches readily indicated the hopeless condition O
his reflections In fact one Of the gentleman's first
speeches, made at Biloxi in which he took occasion
to "peer' the newspapers Of his state in a very
impOlitic fashion, showed plainly that Mr.. Foz
would hardly hold out to reach the August primary
AS suggested, in the beginning of this article
however, the passing OF Mr.. Fox, the man upOI
whom some looked az the one around whose banner
the opponents Of Vardaman might be marshalled
can amount to little moro than fitting incident
There can be no doubt but that gOOdly ma
iOrty Of the people Of the state have already resOv
ed to have Major Vardaman as their next Governor
His clear conception of the important issues pre-
senting themselves to Mississippi his eloquent ant
manly way Of presenting bis views upon all thes
issues, his brave and frank position on those issue
which are pressing for solution, together with hi
scholarly attainments and his patriotic valOr com
bIne to inspire the masses in his behalf. Through
out his wonderful campaign he has been met b.
people Of all classes with open arms and enthusias
tic acclaim. Recognizing him as one Of the people
one knowing by sad experience, the misfortune G
being compelled to struggle for the necessities an
comforts of life without the hope Of fee reward
he draws to his support that hardy, thinking strug
Cling mass composing the great bulk Of the vOtin
population. And yet, with his life devoted to th
most careful study Of bis state, bis section Of gres
nation, Of the nation itself, and Of the civilization
Of the world, learned men and the most IcOnservI
tive Of the states electors, well know that be wi
make safe clean and able chief executive. HO
can man Of such resources before the people
defeatedi This is question the politicians hav
been asking for months, but no one has yet steppe
forward to answer it. Mr.. Fox has given up Il
problem, and others will appreciate the wisdom
Mr.. Fox later on.
The fact is the people Of Mississippi do not wal
to defeat Major Vardaman, and they have take
the bits into their mouths and win zee to it that
is not defeated. They love him for the enemies