The leader., 1905-06-14
VARDAMAN DEVELOPING.
Mississippi's Governor IS Making 4
Splendid Reputation for Himself
and His State.

Emerson Hough, the we'll
known magazine writer, traveller
and student, contributed an arti-
Gle to the Chicago Review of
April 10Th on "Vardaman of Mis-
sissippi, = which may become
effective in modifying the opinion
the general public has had of the
Mississippi governor through inn
perfect newspaper stories and still
more unreliable statements made
by political opponents, Mr..
Hough studied Governor Yarda-
man at close range and from all
sides, forming his opinion after a
studious analysis of the estimates
of foes as we'll as friends. The
conclusion is that there are strong
points of resemblance between
Mr.. Vardaman and President
Roosevelt physically, mentally
and morally. Both are strong
men; both impulsive, jealous OF
their own opinions; both are fight
ers and strong friends, and both
are honest and morally and intel
lectually clean.
The one great difference be-
tween these two is one of opinion
on the race question, and Mr..
Hough, although Northern man
with Northern ideas and Northern
education, is frankly of the opin-
ion that the logic Of fact' is on
the side of the Mississippian who
has studied the question as it is,
practically and as one having per-
sonal knowledge and experience
in his support. The other, Mr..
Roosevelt, sees the same question
Through books, newspapers and
biased reports and forms his con-
cIusion much after the fashion OF
the theorist and academician. But
in the essential characteristics Mr..
Hough finds the two men remark
ably alike.
As if to bear out Mr.. Hough IS
estimate of Governor Vardaman's s
rugged honesty, fearlessness and
determination, an interview the
governor recently gave out in an
swer to newspaper report that
he was in conspiracy to get him.
self elected senator, is in point.
It was intimated in a New Orleans
paper that Governor Vardaman
had probably made some sort of a
deal whereby Senator Money
would resign and he would be
elected. In reply Governor Var
daman said:
I'm the first place, the question
of Senator Moneys resignation
has never been discussed BY him
with me. But / am sure that
such a thought never entered his
head. And in the second place, if
he were to resign, and if | knew
that the senatorship would be Civ
en- me on a silver waiter by the
legislature, | would not resign the
governorship to take it. The peo-
pie of Mississippi elected me gov
ernor, and if the good Lord lets
me live ! am going to serve the
full time. / would not give up
six months as governor for the
senatorship. | do not believe in
trades in Office or in politics. The
offices belong to the people and
when ] want an office / shall go to
the people for it. / can say with
pardonable pride that | have new
er made political deal in my
life, and / would not today prom
Use to appoint or not to appoint
the best. man in the State to the
most unimportant Office if it were
the price of the senatorship. |
have an ambition to go to the
United States Senate after / shall
have completed this term as gov
ernor, but i shall take it from the
voters clean handed or not at all.
| shall get it directly from the
people, untarnished by schemes,
deals or tricks, or 1 shall not have
/ it at all. 2
1t will not take much urging to
convince people that the man who
has the courage to utter senti-
ments like these is a slayer and
| THAT his greatest service to bis
| people is before him. Governor
Vardaman is coming man.
Chattanooga Times.