The Columbus weekly dispatch. (Columbus, Miss.) 1902-1905, 1903-05-28

an enormous sum was spent
in the constitutions conven
tion Of 1890 called fr the
purpose Of eli min4ting the
negro from politics by restrict
ing his voting power with quail
I cations. and The State was spend
ing millions to bring him back
again by educating him to meet
/ these qualifications. Education
had promoted crime among the
race. He discussed the school dis
tribution, saying that the negro
in some counties in the State had
a longer school term than the
white children in other counties
of the State and he favored a
/ change which would insure for
the white children Of the poor
counties longer school terms,
better teachers and better school
facilities than they receive un-
der the present plan Of dis
tribution 1t was said that
this could not be done: that
the race could not be discrimi
mated against He had been criti-
cized for not Offering a plan. 1t
was urged that the convention of
1892 could not accomplish its pur-
pose, bat it did. Mississippians
could accomplish this, if they
chose. They could at least try and
see. He said that the Constitution
Of 1890, by eliminating the negro
from government. had made CAPT
tai confident. The views he en-
tertained now would not frighten
capital any more than the con
vention had done.
He then read from an article
from the pen of Rev. S. A. Steel
Published IN the Baltimore and
Richmond Christian Advocate in
which that eminent divine and
scholar sustained his position
relative to the education of the
negro.
Mr.. Vardaman said then that
he wanted to talk about himself
briefly. He avowed that he was a
candidate for Governor and that
the opposition directed against
him was the dirtiest and most
disreputabIe fight ever waged
against any man. There had
been a greater variety flies told
against him than ever told against
any man and the gang evidently
did not want him in office. He
was charged with being a drunk
ard and gambler when as
matter Of fact he had never play
ed a game Of cards or used liquor
ia his life. Ia the wet counties
on the river he was said to be a
rampant prohibitionist; ia the
dry counties Of the East he was
put down by his enemies and
those seeking to defeat him as a
adyocateof whiskey;in the strong
Methodist and Baptist counties
he was said to be an atheist and
inidel while he proclaimed his
mem bership ia the church of
God Mr. Vardaman said he
wanted to be Governor, but he
wanted to 60 in the office with
clean hands. He would not have
the office if he had to take it with
strings tied to it and if selected
for that position he would not
prostitute its exalted functions to
pay political debts or punish his
enemies. He said he would be the
/ Governor of all the people and
4 the lowest as we'll as the highest
would always have his ear. His
tribute TO the old soldiers aud
the womanhood of the South was
beautiful and at the conclusion
of his address he was greeted
with. prolonged cheering and ap.
plause.
Mai. Vardaman aud Dr. ". O.
Kiger. of Warren county, u cen
didate for Lieutenant Governor,
visited Caledonia on Thursday
aud addressed a good crowd al
/ that place in presentation Of their
candidacy Both made tine in
pressions.
No Sit nav Ssn~a