The commonwealth. (Greenwood, Miss.) 1896-1923, 1907-07-12
the oyfRNoe.s attCxA At CAaaouToN

the Governors recent speech At that
place:
Gov. Vardaman arrived in Car
rollton last Tuesday at II O'Clock q.
m. He was met at the station by
DIR. J. A. Mcbride and was driven to
the residence Of Leigh Fox, a cousin
Of the governor. Mrs. Fox enter
tained the governor and his family
with an elegant dining. At two
O'Clock p. m. the courthouse was
crowded and the governor spoke TO
something more than half as many
people as came to hear John Sharp
Williams,
"On and near the stand with the
speaker were Col. ]. ID. Money, a
cousin Of the governor, Mayor W s..
Vardaman, his brother, Mr.. Pillow,
IG. L Ray, DR.. Campbell and several
others fran Greenwood; also DIR. J.
A. Mcbride, j. A. Glenn and other
Carrollton friends. None enjoyed
the speaking more than the Green
wood visitors, who lead the applause.
In view Of the presence and the en-
thusiasm Of these Lefore county
friends, TO which no one offers the
slightest objection, it was rather un-
gracious in the governor TO charge
in advance that the Meridian meeting
would be packed by Williams men
brought in from other counties.
I'm graceful words G. i. Ray in
troduced the governor to the audi
ences Whether the selection Of a
Greenwood lawyer and banker to in
troduce the speaker to Carroll coun-
ty farmers was from choice or neces-
sity this deponent saith not.
For two hours and more the gov
ernor held the undivided attention
of his large audience. It was a
great tribute TO him. We have been
at pains to get at the impression
made upon his hearers,
1.-THE faith Of Abraham, the pre-
science Of Moses, the wisdom of Sol
ONION, the craftsmanship Of Lycur-
gus, the patriotism Of Washington,
the eloquence Of Prentice and the
oratory of Prentiss, were all COM
bined in tha speech, according to the
most enthusiastic of his followers.
1.-THE speech bordered on the indie
cent, according to some. Others said
1t crossed the border.
Those who think dispassionately,
without prejudice and without favor,
regard it as a patchwork Of unrelat-
ed parts, strung together with prose
and poetry, which were very pretty.
i was illogical to a degree. For
instance the governor expended
great force aad energy and shed
much perspiration In an attempt to
show that government ownership Of
railroads is not an issue, (which by
the way the governor said he would
vote for under certain conditions.
The truth is there is an organiza-
ton in Nebraska and another one in
Washington, D. G., whose sole pur-
pose ie to promote government ow-
nership, and they are doing mission
airy work in the South to that end.
Not an issue, when 1t is backed by
organized movements in different
parts of the country? Then he
spent considerable time in a ques-
tionable discussion of rape. Is that
an issue? The very suggestion that
it could be a political issue is nause-
ating. That the governor should
even seem TO speak as though it
we're an issue between himself and
Mr.. Williams is a serious reflection
on himself.
Again, the governor said he did
not join all the other governors in
an invitation to President Roosevelt
to accompany the deep-water ways
commission down the Mississippi
because he wanted 70 rebuke the
spirit that we must 60 to Wash
ington for fayors. Then he said he
did join in an invitation to the Con-
gressional Commission because he
wanted a deep channel from the
Lakes TO the Gulf. Now, pray, isn't
that too going to Washington for ia
yors2 The money to do the work
must come from Washington, An
invitation to the Congressional Com
mission is just as much going to