The Grenada sentinel., 1907-01-26
Former Writes OF His COnneC-
tiOn with Board of Control
SAYS VARDAMAN CIRCULATED FkLStHOOOS
A Sensational Document that Created
Much Surprise in Political Circles
The GoverEor will Probably
Pay His Respects Later.

Commissioners from this district and
a member Of the board of control re-
Gently retired, reviews his relations
and that Gov. Nardaman'S with the
board OF control and insists that the
Governor has miSrepresented him and
has not confined his utteranceS to facts.
Below is Mr. kincannUn'S letter To
the public:
TO the people OF Mississippi: L had
hoped to avoid the necessity Of 4 pub
lie sta tement in regard TO penitentia-
ry affairs, for the reason that l did
not consider the columns OF a news
paper proper place TO transact pub
lie business.
| have believed the proper way for
the board of control to settle their
differences was in the office OF the
board each member understanding
that the majority should rule and
each cOnccding honesty OF purpose to
the other, until some tangible fact
could be pointed out to Justify Il con-
trary opinion.
| believe that the public regards
newspaper controversies between pub
lie officials rs political controversies,
and that neither party is actnated by
u sincere desire to do The public a ser
vice, but, on the O5her hand each is
attempting TO gain some selfish pO-
liticai advantage.
For these reasons | have refrained
from making any public statement, al
though | have been frequently mis-
represented through the public press
by Governor Fardaman. | would
not now make this statement except
that 1 feel my silence may be misun
derstood. / am not candidate for
any position, and | make this state
mcnt without regard to its political
effect and simply with The view that
the truth may prevail. But for the
conyicl ion that ! owe it 10 my friends,
who nave twice lOn0Fed me with their
support, and to my family. and cspec-
tally TO my wife and Fittl- children.
to prorect nv good name, | would re
main silent.
Ny service aS a member nf the
board of cpntr0! he .an Nov. 2I. 1899.
From that time until December 1902,
| believed lnat s me OF the proceeds
of the labor OF til, COnvCiS was be-
ing miSappropiatc1. An examination
of the records OF the board nf control
will show that | WAS persistent in my
GppOSitIUn to every thing that Smacked
o. graft. ] also refer the public to
my testimony before the peniteitiary
investigating committee 1892. In
1908 | was candidate for reelection.
and was opposed by two worthy and
deSeryedly popular gentleman. Dur
ing the canvass my record was dis
cusSed. and when the verdict was re-
turned by the court OF last resort
the enlightened citizenship of MiSsiS-
Sippi-my course was endorsed by re-
election in the first primary. | have
pursued the same course during my
present term, but the newspapers
have had column after column of char
geS of mismanagement a I'd Of imprOp-
er motives on the part Of the board OF
which | was a member.
At the beginning OF my service the
peoitentiary property was appraised
at abOnt Sl47, 100000. On the first
day Of January, 1907, the board Of
control over to the trustees more than
$1,000, 10000 OF property. During
the seven years of my service more
than S450,000. 90 of cash was turned
into the the treasury in excess Of eX-
penditureS. For the original S147,-
100000 the board of control turned
over in property and cash more than
One-half millions Of dollars as result
of the seven years management, max
ing an average profit to the taXpay-
ers of Mississippi of more than $780,
10000 per year on an investment of
S147, 100000 This is my answer to
the charge OF miSmanagement. |
also consider this in a measure and an
Swer to the charge Of misconduct and
"favoritiSm for political reasons.
Ny further answer is that my accuSer
is unworthy of belief.
With the Inauguration Of the pres
ent administration there began on the
part OF the governor an effort to run
the whole penitentiary to suiG himself,
regardless of the fact that the intelli-
gent people OF Mississippi had placed
four other members of the board of
control each with authority equal
with the governor. When Gov. Var
daman stepped on the scene of action
he was SO puffed up with his own
greatness that he attempted TO sweep
aside the. authority given the other
four members Of the board OF control
by the people, and d'.assdmedf that each
member of the board of control would
bow to his august will. When he fl
nally learned that he could not con-
troll the members Of the board his
wrath knew no bounds, and he deter
mined TO destroy them. With this
object he has filed his partisan news