New-York tribune., 1907-01-19
j. S. WILLIAMS DEFI1NT.
Challenges Governor Vardaman to
Joint Debate.
TFrOm the TrIbune Rureau. !

washington, Jan. 1S.-Representative John
sharp Williams, OF Mississippi, the minority
leader of the House, tonight issued challenge
TO Governor Yardaman OF Mississippi for a
joint debate
I shall be glad to debate this question in
joint discussion with the Governor" said Mr.
Williams, from March or s next until the
mississippi Senatorial primary in August Gov
erhor Nardaman closes a recent interview in
'ehded as part of his contribution TO the Mis-
slssippi Senatorial contest as follows: 4 am for
Bryan for the nomination. 1 regard him as the
safest statesman in America. He is incor
ruptibly honest, of great foresight and his
noeiity to principle and the interests of the
toiling masses is unquestioned even nv his hit
terest enemies
To every word of that 1 agree" continued Mr.
"hhams. L hope TO see Mr.. Bryan nominated
anu L want moreover, to make II possible for
MIN to be elected after he is nominated In
liiat interview he says that If he were delegate
10 the next Democratic National Convention he
would not vote against proposition for the
IeoeraI government to own and operate the
railroads of the United States. 1t must be
patent to all with the slightest legal informa-
ton that state laws cannot regulate federal
property. If the United States owned the rail-
roads and operated them. state laws requiring
separate coaches for the two races would be-
come Immediately imperative, because OF the
intervention of the supreme authority of the
United States-supreme in the control. man
agement and regulation Of its own property, as
much so in the Of the railroads. If they
We're the property of the federal government, as
in the case of military reservations or other ex-
elusive property of the federal government.
THE question presented to Mississippians is
whether they would be fairly represented in the
Senate of the United States or in a national
convention by one who would not agree before
hand TO oppose a system of federal railroad
ownership and operation which must Inevitably
and ipso factO lead to the notification of the
laws of the Southern states requiring separate
coacneS Tor the two races. All know as we'll as
do that the moment some Negro man took his
seat By some white woman who requested him
10 move when he would not move because he
had legal right to stay. there would be trouble
into the details of which there is no use enter
ing. L believe that the federal government can
regulate and control the interstate transporta-
ton rates and business of this country in the in
terests OF the people. There is but one thing
standing in its way, and that consists OF croak-
cannot be done
1T has been done in Great Britain, the other
great English speaking and self governing coun-
try Are we the inferior of those people in in
tellect, sagacity and intelligent statesmanship?
But even II we had to put up with the present
management Of railroads, with all their abuses.
subject only to such cure state laws and
federal laws have provided, or NAV provide
would Mississippians not rather endure the Ills
they have than TO run the risk Of the evil of
federal ownership, with its one million of added
/ federal employees, its fourteen billions Of debt
necessary TO buy the roads, and the disgusting
evil OF going back to the system OF common
] cars for both races which prevailed in the South
/ during carpet bag times. and prevails now in
those two-thirds Of the states Of the Union con-
| trOled by Northern sentiment