Durango semi-weekly herald., 1907-08-05
VARDAMAN OR WILLIAMS7

Jackson, Miss, Aug. 1.-Afte. the
most enthusiastic campaign in Mis-
sissippis history, white Democratic
primaries are being held today in the
seventy-seven counties of the state to
decide the senatorial fight between
Governor Vardaman and Congressman
John Sharp Williams, and, incidentally,
to choose a candidate for governor and
other state offices. While n half doz-
en- candidates are in the field lor
the gubernatorial plum, only casual
interest has been manifested in the
race. In today's primaries, as all dur
ing the campaign, TIE senatorial -"
pirants-the fire-eating, picturesque
Vardaman, of whom it has been said
| that he rode into the governors chair
on the back of a niger" and the
more solemnly and statesmanlike Will
| liams-occupy the center of the stage.
Practically every Democrat in the
state-and that means every white
voter-has taken sides in the contest
! and has waged an enthusiastic cam
paign for his favorite.
| Reports from all the state indicate an
| unprecedented vote will be cast in the
primaries. In preparing the poll books
very few disqualified persons were
found on the registration lists. nearly
evry white Democrat having paid poll
| tpxy tla q
in the campaign was awakened early
by the prospects of a Titanic contest
between Vardaman and Williams, and
has constantly increased until in the
campaign the enthusiasm of the voters
has passed all bounds. Under such
circumstances it is unlikely that many
men will lose the opportunity to give
expression to their choice. Estimates
based on early reports Indicate n total
vote of nearly 10000.
| For several years candidates for the
United States senate in this state have
been selected by direct vote of the peo-
Pile, and the indorsment of either Var
daman or Williams today means GER
tain election by the next legislature
when ii assemblies here next January.
There is no bolting the choice of the
primaries, no Republican nor inde-
pendent candidates and no opposition
to the Democratic nominees. For these
reasons todaly's primaries are practical
ly elections, expressing the choice of
the great majority of voters. The
elections in November really amount
to nothing, and few take the trouble
to go to the polls.
The senatorial seat for which Will
liams and Vardaman have been CON
testing so vigorously is now occupied
by II. ID. Money. who. because Of i'll
health, will retire at the end of the
present term. 1t is courteous fact
that both of the candidates for the
toga are related by ties of blood or
marriage to the present incumbent, Gov.
ernor Vardaman being cousin, and
Congressman Williams related through
his wife's family.
| Both Vardaman and williams are
stalwarts in their way. AS minority
leader in the house of representatives
Williams has attained national fame
as brilliant. versatile and construc.
tive statesman. Vardaman is of the
type of Senators Benjamin Tillman OF
South Carolina and Jefferson Davis OF
Arkansas, and has Joined those pitch.
fork statesmen in new crusade
Tor the repeal of the fourteenth and
part OF the fifteenth amendments to
the federal constitution. Williams has
denounced such demands as impos-
sible of accomplishment and mere sub
terfuEes to gain a senatorial seat