The Semi-weekly leader. (Brookhaven, Miss.) 1905-1941, 1907-07-13
THE WILLIAMS
VARDAMAN DEBATE
THE EVENT As REPORTED BY EDITOR
NORWOOD OF MAGNOLIA.
From the Magnolia Gazette.

From the Magnolia Gazette.
The much-heralded, much dis
cussed joint debate between Gov
ernor James K. Vardaman and
Congressman John Sharp Will
liams took place at Meridian
Thursday in the presence of a
crowd composed Of citizens from
all parts of the country the size OF
which was conservatively estimat-
ed at ten thousand people.
Interest in the occasion, already
whetted by the reputation and
ability of both candidates for SEN
atorial honors, had been greatly
increased by the oft-repeated and
taunting assertion that the Cover
nor did not dare to face John
Sharp Williams on the stump.
Supporters of the Governor who
knew the unqualified fearlessness
and unfaltering courage of his
physical and intellectual charac-
ter, of course knew that there
was absolutely nothing in the con-
tention, but for that reason they
were all the more anxious that
their candidate should meet his
opponent in joint debate.
The result Thursday was all
that they could have desired and,
in fact, must have surpassed the
most sanguine expectations of
Vardaman's most enthusiastic sup
porters. Notwithstanding the
handicap of a very sore throat,
the governor never appeared to
better advantage than when he
held that vast audience spell
bound for two solid hours and de-
molished one by one every argu-
ment his adversary had present
ed.
The crowd, too, was with Var
daman.
While the admirers and folio
wers of the Minority Leader
sought repeatedly to stem the
overpowering flood Of tumultuous
enthusiasm which greeted Varda-
man, their efforts were as futile
as though they had sought to dam
the mighty waters of the Missis-
sippi with sand bar. Never, in
the history of the State-at least
since the war of Secession has
any man received such demon
stration as that accorded Varda-
man on this occasion.
He had hardly risen from his
bed in the Grand Avenue Hotel
before his cohorts began to assem-
BILE and by nine o'clock they had
almost blocked every street pass
ing the hotel. When the arrange
ments for the debate we're finally
concluded and the start for the
grounds was made, the Cover
nor's carriage was followed by a
procession of yelling, cheering
men which stretched away several
blocks behind him, when he stood
upon the platform, the cries of
"Vardaman! Vardaman!'' which
came from the vast throng drown
ed out every other acclaim and
even the brazen clamor of a large
brass band could not be heard
above it.
When Williams appeared, with
characteristic generosity, the
Vardaman contingent joined with
his adherents in hearty applause,
and it is not unfair to say that for
the cheers he received he is as
much indebted to the Vardaman
men as his own.
| The plan of debate, notwith.
standing previous newspaper an.
nouncements, seems not to have
been agreed upon until within an
hour of the time set for 1t to be.
gin. The Committee on Arrange,
ments, IN positive defiance of the
Governors expressed wishes had
decreed that Williams should
speak first one hour and a half;
Vardaman follow in the same
length of time, and Williams close
with a thirty minute rejoinder.
To this plan, the Governor frank
| ly and positively objected. He
insisted that he could not deliver
bis speech in less than two and a
half hours, and declared that if he
were not granted that much time,
Mr.. Williams could consume the
remainder Of the. day and all
night if he desired. Mr.. Will
Iiams would not agree to this and
a deadlock seemed inevitable.
Finally, the committee came back
to Vardaman with the proposition
that each should have two hours;
| Williams to open. Vardaman to
follow; and Williams to have
thirty minutes rejoinder and the
governor fifteen. After some dis
cussion, this arrangement was
accepted and faithfully carried
out by both speakers. Our linn
| tied time and space in this issue
prevents our giving an extended
review of these speeches and for
the present our readers must con
tent themselves with the following
brief synopsis:
In his opening speech, Williams
devoted the greater part OF his
time in attempting to prove that
Vardaman was an advocate oi
Government Ownership of rail
roads and was opposed to the Rail
road Rate Regulation Bill. He
begged his opponent to quii
Talking about Che niger long
enough to discuss the tariff and
other national questions Of great