The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1909-03-03
DISAGREEMENT ON
SILVER SERVICE


refusal of Ex-Governor Vardaman to turn
over to the commission the $17O4. so he col
lected on that account while governor of
the state, is matter that will not down.
The ex-governor has claimed that the
funds he collected were placed in his hands
as trust, and that he is going to swing
to it till after the silver service is pur-
chased and delivered. In order to show
that this money was entrusted to Varda-
man simply because he happened to be
governor at the time, DR.. Dunbar Row.
Z land director of the Mississippi depart
ment of archives and history, who is a
low explanation
ITO the People of Mississippi:
ION February 6, 1909. Hon. J. B. Stirl-
ing, attorney general of the state of Mis-
sissippi, submitted an official opinion to
Governor Noel holding that if the silver
service fund collected by Ex-Governor was
collected by him as the governor of the
state of Mississippi, and not as a pri-
vate. citizen, 1t should have been turned
over to hisg successor when he vacated
the executive office. Since that time L
have received numerous and urgent re-
quests from people of Mississippi asking
for the facts as contained in the records
of the department of archives and his
tory.
'Inasmuch as all the people are entitled
to these facts, regard it as my official
duty to submit the record evidence on the
question, taken from the files of the state
department of archives and history
1.-THE record shows that on October TO-
1905, Vardaman, as governor, gave out
the following address which is given in
full:
Ito the People of Mississippi:
1T is customary for state after
which a battleship is named to present
that ship with a silver service. That
custom I am very DESTROYS that Misss-
sippi shall honor, and I prefer that the
money to purchase the silver service be
raised by popular subscriptions. I there
fore call upon all patriotic Mississipians
to contribute. as much they are able
for the purchase of the service. 1t will
cost between $4,000 and $4,000 The hand
somer the better. The members of the
governors staff, commanding officers of
the different military organizations and
presidents of chapters of United Daugh-
ters of the Confederacy are especially ap-
pointed agents to take up this collection
and report to me- Inc amounts as re-
ceived shall appear from time to time in
the public press
JAMES K. VARDAMAN,
Governor
1.-THE record further shows that in a
letter to the New Orleans Times-Demo-
crat bearing date October 16, 1905. Gov
ernor Vardaman wrote as follows:
" The Times-Democrat has kindly Of
fered to assist in collecting the fund for
ship Mississippi. and will acknowledge
through its columns any funds which
may be sent to it.
" The plan for raising money needed
for making this presentation by popu-
lar subscription will, l feel sure meet
the hearty approval and cooperation of
all Mississppians whose patriotism has
never been tested in vain. l know also
that | voice the sentiments OF every loyal
citizen of the state when / express the
wish and the determination that the
ship which is to bear the honored name
of this great commonwealth shall re-
ceive from us recognition in keeping with
the dignity of that proud title and the
glorious traditions which it embodies
" Let our namesake Of the seas have
cause to regard with pride this gift which
is to be testimonial of our generosity
and our patriotic devotion to the name
of Mississippi
JAMES K. vARDAMAN,
/" Governor
jackson, Miss, October 16, 1906
1.-THE record further shows that the
Times-Democrat carried the foregoing let
ter at the top Of its Silver Service Fund
column as its authority for receiving
contributions for the people of Mississippi.
1.-THE above is the record evidence. 1t
speaks for itself Let the people judge
whether the silver service fund collected
by James X. Vardaman was paid to him
as governor or as private citizen.
Very respectfully,
DUNBAR ROWLAND,
Director Mississippi Department Arch
ives and History"
George B. Arburtin, assistant general
freight and passenger agent of the
"Ozone Route" the New Orleans Great
Northern. was in the city today and was
a visitor to the office of the railroad
commission In the capitol
Mr.. Arburtin states that in the event
weather conditions are at all favorable
the Great Northern will be running trains
in and out of the city of Jackson by May
l. By the 7th of this month they expect
to have trains into Columbia, and shortly
after that as far north as Ruby Copiah
county. Ruby is six miles north of
Georgetown and about % miles to the
south Of Jackson.
The roadbed Is pretty we'll completed to
Jackson, but there is good deal of bal
lasting and smoothing over to be done
before any schedule can be established.
The physical connections at Seger's
switch. three miles south of Jackson, have
not been made with the Illinois Central,
but are in such condition that they can
be made in very few hours
Commissioner of Agriculture Blakeslee
has returned from Yazoo City, where he
went in company with Professor LLOYD
for the purpose Of organizing the boys
of the county into corn clubs and reports
the biggest and most encouraging meeting
he has ever had on such an occasion, The
courthouse was simply full of citizens of
the county, and very great interest was
manifested in the work in hand A. corn
club with 200 boys as members was or
ganized, and premiums aggregating 500
were raised in short while, that sum
including $50 voted for the cause by the
board of supervisors.
In his charge to the grand jury today,
Judge Potter called special attention to