The Atlanta constitution. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1885-19??, 1903-08-31
The Mississippi Result.


We fail to see any good ground for
criticism of the state of Mississippi,
or of the democratic voters of that
state. because of the decision Of Thurs
days primary i'll favor of Major Varda-
mans candidacy for the governorship.
There has been a strong effort, both
in Mississippi and outside, to make 1t
appear that victory for Major Varda-
man would reflect discredit upon the
state and the party which controls its
affairs, on the ground that such a VIC
tory would argue the domination or
the "reactionary" element. The press
northern and southern-has been
particularly solicltous about what they
declared would be a blot upon the
south in Vardaman's triumph; but 1t
is lust as we'll to look at the situation
as it is before joining in such criti-
| cism
In the first place, it must not be for
gotten that a great many different fac
tors enter into contest OF this KIND.
However prominent any one Issue may
be, there are always considerations or
environment. Of personal friendship
and a hundred and one others which
influence voters, and in a race as
close as this ore has been, any one Of
these considerations was sufficient TO
bring to the winning candidate the
support which gave the deciding vote.
Both Major Vardaman and Judge
Critz are gentlemen Of acknowledged
ability, both have figured prominently
in, IF hoi CT
strong friends and supporters who
could not be swayed by issues, real or
imaginary, in the face of the certainty
that either Is fully competent to fill
the high office to which he has as
pred The political future of other
men was bound up in the candidacy
of each Of the aSpirantS to the govern
OrshiD, and the relative local strength
OF these men, on the one side and on
the other, served, naturally, to affect
in great degree the vote upon the
head Of the ticket. All these things
are to be considered. Reference is
made to them in no spirit Of apology
for The result but in studying the
causes which produced that result,
all these things must be taken into
consideration.
This fact, that there were other ls-
sues and other elements influencing
The vote upon the gOvernorShlp, is not
cited for the purpose of obscurlng IN
any degree the other fact that the
predominant issue in that contest was
racial in its character. There is no
reason why this should be obscured,
although all the criticisms to which
We have referred are based upon it.
But the fact should be clearly kept
in mind that Major Vardaman did not
make the race issue which has con
vulsed Mississippi. II is entirely OF
the making OF another man, and that
man is President Roosevelt.
AS we have found cause on other
occasions to point out, the revival or
the race question as an issue at the
south is due 10 President Roosevelt.
1t is not necessary here to go into all
the details. even as to his forcing a
negro as federal office holder upon
Charleston over the protests of all the
best elements OF her citizens, and over
the virtual protest of a republican SEN
ate.
SDOulU Injustice Vi an hiuN W dCiC
to the colored people of Mississippi as
the result of this electiOn-though we
are confident none will be done-the
one person upon whom must rest the
responsibility is President Roosevelt.
The fires which started race issue
in Mississippi politics were lighted by
him and if the republican papers feel
compelled to dilate unfavorably upon
the result of the governorshlp contest,
it is upon the official head OF their
own party that they should hurl their
diatribes. Vardaman found an issue
made for him and was politician
enough TO take advantage OF it.
Now that the smoke of the battle
has cleared away, it is to be hoped
that all the bitterneSseS of the CON
nict will be forgotten and that the
good people Of Mississippi will resume
the even tenor OF their way. We are
confident none of the dire things pre-
dicted by Major Vardaman's critics
will come to pass it would certainly
be the part Of good taste, at any rate,
for those disposed to crticise TO with.
hold their criticisms until the new
governor assumes office. His admins
tration will speak for itself, and II 1T
calls for criticism there will be time
enough to criticiSe.