New-York tribune., 1907-08-13
WILLIAMS ON VARDAMAN.
Fears Encroachment of Populism-
The aftermath an Mississippi.

Yazoo City. Miss. Aug. IL (special).-Charg-
ing that Governor James K. Vardaman spurned
Democracy and coquetted with the Populists In
the late campaign for United States Senator,
John Sharp Williams, the victor in the fight for
that Office. in address here on the aftermath
of the battle. said:
Governor Vardarnan declares that he has no
grets to express for anything said done by him
self by any of his friends in the late campaign
hope that in saying that the Governor was only
talking out loud ard before he haG finished think
If he means what he says then he means that
he indorses and does not regret the action of one
OF his friends who affixed the signature of JUS
tice Of the peace to a document in the absence
of and without the knowledge or consent Of that
official
1t would mean that he indorses and does not
regret the action Of another one Of his friends
who caught with the ballot box.
II that he indorses and does not regret
the action Of another of his friends-some one TO
me unknown-who published what purported TO
be letter from Washington negro. violating
the statute Of the United States which requires
men who publish things concerning candidates in
primaries to afix their names.
Few realize how grave an issue the late Sena-
torial contest became 1t was grave for Mississippi
and grave for the South You have a right 70
congratulate yourself on the fact that MISSISSIPPI
has again gone Democratic and that you will
have in ths Senate Ct the United States a man
however meagre his ability is. who will at east
think upon political subjects after the OF
thought Of Calhoun and Davis and Tilden and
Walthall and not one who will think after the
Randolph Hearst
When I first entered into the campaign thought
IL was case of friendly competition between two
Democrats. both adhering to and loving Democracy
and taking their guidance. when they took any at
all, from Democratic leaders soon began TO be
undeceived and TO discover that there effort
being made by Governor Vardau1an to play to the
Populsts This was shown first by his coquetting
with the proposition of government ownership, a
proposition which Democrat Of the school Of
Jefferson. Calhoun, George WalthaH could have
tolerated for so much as minute This was
in tba cO0d uIac nv hiz i0rr Of
Tom Watson a man easier to criticise than
to answer" This was followed by letter of eulogy
TO Watson. which was published by Watson in his
magazine. and then by words of eulogy writing
concerning my competitor by watson
1t proved in the third place. when at Bay
St Louis Miss the Governor seemed to take
stand upon the rankest doctrine of state socialism
the doctrine which would efface the power of the
courts 10 declare acts Of the national legislature
TO be unconstitutional and thus turn US over TO
the absolute rule of an unbridled majority.
The intent OF all this obvious. but I conttn-
ued TO hope until after the primary that it would
fail OF results. believing that the who had
come back TO the Democratic party 10 participate
in its party election had come in good faith. and
would decline 10 be led by Tom Watson. the
leader Of the national Populists. the leader Of
any other party.
CONVERTS AND ENEMIES
The result however showed that I was mis-
taken My competitor received the 1900 or 20oto
Populist votes of this state almost masse- They
took their marching orders from Thomas Watson
There is one great benefit that has been attained
by this lesson taught by the late primary. The
the Democratic organization IN this state by hold
ing the balance of power between Democrats came
so very being successful that the plan itself
has been exposed and the eyes OF. Democrats VINO
love their party have been opened. They will not
be caught mapping again Hereafter. take it that
II a mans is challenged on the ground that
he is not a Democrat regulation Of the party
law Of the state will require him at least TO
give his word of honor that he is Democrat and
not a Republican, or a Democrat and not a Popu-
list. or a Democrat and not a Socialist have
been told that many would answer falsely. I do
haTfn IaTEz
would but not many. and If il turned out that
many would falsely then the Democrats
Would sun nave the game IN thelr own hands
Let them keep a watchful eye, and when a candt-
date before party primary shows evidence OF
catering to that element let the sole result be
absolute uniicaton Of Democrats against him
Take case right now for example. The
probability is that Mr.. Bryan will be the next
nominee Of the Democratic party No man in all
America has ever attacked him. his motives and
LIS character savagey as Ton Watson. Yet
there are $4,000 or 2O.Oo0 men participating in
Democratic primary State OF Mississippi who
receive and acknowledge marching orders from
Tom Watson. What are they going to do when
the Presidential election comes and Mr., Bryan Is
nominated by the Democrats and Mr. Watson by
the Populists? From whom are they going TO take
their marching orders then? just throw out this
illustration.
am sorry to say that believe that Mr.. Wat
has the list Of names and postoffce addresses
of the members of the Farmers Union Of this
state II is through these lists and the dis
semination OF literature that he is hoping
dermine the Democracy in this state This Is
gerous only so long as the rank and file of the
Farmers Union do not know IT. The moment their
eyes are opened there is no danger, because they
are Mississippi Democrats. proud OF the history OF
the party and proud OF the history OF the state
warn them now that believe that this attempt
with them has been already TO some extent made
and will be further male by the leader OF the
national PopuIist party.
We people OF the South have another plain duty.
which seems to to be more patiently presented
10 US now than and that is TO help the drift
and tendency OF time toward solution OF the race
nroblem. AS the problem consists of the jux-
fanosItiou of the in nearly equal
lis onIy solution will be in the measurable separa-
ton of the two races, by increasing the number |
of white people in the South and decreasing the /
number Of negroes. There ought to be a combined |
effort to do both. provided always that
ber that do not want the scum OF Europe, its /
driftings its bad element. but do only |,
such men and women as our forefathers were when /
they came to these shores-self-respectng and hon.
est people who love republican institutions We /
get them. for there are plenty OF them both /
TO the north of and elsewhere Meanwhile, the \
natural tendency of the race to scatter over
all the United States is helping u.s. This tendency 4
we should by no means check AS for myself. L
have q plain duty 1t is to consecrate myself and 4
dedicate my energies to The services OF the South,
%ha or@ tho