The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1907-07-09
Williams and Vardaman

y 4 = :
The Joint debate between Congress-
man John Sharp Williams and Cover
nor Vardaman at Meridian was spicy.
reports we have read OF the speeches
1t would take a Philadelphia lawyer
to discover any issue between the can
didates. save that Mr.. Williams is IN
favor Of Williams for United States
Senator and Governor Yardaman Is for
Vardaman. Governor Vardaman ad
niitted that all Southern Democrats
are agreed on tariff reform. and he de-
MES that either he or Mr.. william
j. Bryan is In favor OF government
ownership OF railroads Governor Var
daman's strong card Is hia advocacy
of the repeal Of the fifteenth amend
ment. In discussing that subject, he
painted a tragic picture of poor wo-
man outraged by negro In Jackson;
of the negroes arrest and trial. how
tho woman sank into Inconsistencies
on the witness stand, while the brute
leered in fiendish glee." He wound up
his recital with the declaration that
he wouldEnot have had this woman
+ suffer what kshe did In that courtroom
for all the negroes In the United
States. He added that. while he had
never shot a negro or stuffed a ballot
box. he approved OF it when It became
necessary III order to preserve white
supremacy in the South
Mr.. Williams. in reply. said he was
not disappointed In Mr.. Vardaman's
address; that he had drawn horrible
picture OF the negro fend; but What
would the repeal Of the fifteenth amend
nent have to do with It? Would 1t
abolish the negro? Would not the
negro with the same nature and ten
denotes still be here?
The repeal OF the fifteenth amend
ment would be accomplished only by
two-thirds majority in both houses
| OF Congress- He said that he was
as much In favor as Governor Yarda-
man OF the repeal of this amendment,
| but he did not know how to do 1T, and
| he saw no good. but only harm. to
| come from agitating the question in
| Congress.
! Mr.. Williams said that when Mr..
Vardaman had asked the audience II
they would vote fop the repeal OF the
fifteenth amendment several voices
cried. Yes and added that had he
shave said yes. Then he asked this
| question:: "po you want the negro
| question settled by the Yankees?"
There were loud cries of mo. nor
/ and a miniature demonstration fol-
! lowed, IN which were distinguished
i cries \ or 3sfsNardandn'S all right, and
/ I'VE are for Williams.
/ THE repeal OF the fifteenth amend
/ rrent and the modification Of the four
Eteenth amendment would mean the en-
/ forcement OF the peonage. law" declared
Mr.. Williams. II have been lighting
Crumpacker and the Keller bill for a
reduction Of the south's representa-
4 floor of the house that I would be
willing to sec Il reduction of South-
ern representation II the North will
agree to the repeal Of the fifteenth
4 amendment"
I've want to solve the negro prob
lem and we do not want the North to
I. solve 1t for us.
Z The reporter OF the New Orleans
4 Times Democrat says that the surre-
joinder by Mr.. Vardaman was not a
success. He went to pieces under
A the sharp tongue and watchful eye of
Williams. Several times he undertook
to quote Mr. Williams was halted by
4 the Congressman and admitted him
self in5error. The crowd howled with
delightaat these tits. &.
Il Mr.. .Eardaman begged for silence
saying he had sat in his wet clothing
! until hoarse but wanted fair hear
ing. He finished with an appeal to
q the voters for chance to show in the
Senate to the people Of the North the
! status of the negro question. He said
:. that fGe!ected to the Senate he would
let those who do not know the real
danger from negro suffrage knox the
I exact condition OF affairs in the South
Again he warmed up to his subject and
said
~ am not of those. who are glad
that the Confederacy failed in hel
! purpose. l would rather live under
j the Stars and Bars under jefferson
Davis than under the Stars and Stripes
with Theodore Roosevelt as Presiden
: of the United States"
This statement was chetred to thu
: echo.
This debate has a bearing on the
I campaign of zoos. Governor yarda
4 man, who is an enthusiastic follower
n of Mr.. Bryan, is lodging the gov
eminent ownership question and tryinl
B to arouse the people on the race ques
: ton IT would be interesting to know
. BY the way, how Mr.. Bryan stands
I. on the proposal to repeal the fifteenth
n amendment and Just here a signih
( cant incident Of the day may be men
toned as showing the temper of TIL
mississippi audience towards Mr.
Il Bryan Governor Vardaman hat
M quoted Mr. Bryan as saying that h,
did not want government ownership
made an issue. when did he say it,
INTERRUPTED Mr.. Williams
Governor Vardaman; He said 1t