The Semi-weekly leader., 1910-11-02
VARDAMAN DAY
AT STATE FAIR
As Usual. a Great Ov alton Capital City
Crowded With Red Necks, ''IiiII
BiIIIes" and .'CattIe" From q
Thousand Hills.

1850
their innings today, and scored
heavily, which means that the dis
tinguished citizen was himself the
chief object Of interest on the part
Of the majority of those who enter
led the city and who poured through
the gates into the exposition
grounds. They began arriving last
evening, and continued to arrive
throughout the day up to the after.
noon. II happened that there was
some misunderstanding as to the
/ hour for the speaking, many of the
Eout-of.toWn people getting the
impression that it was to be in the
Fafternoon, and delayed their arriy.
al until the later trains during the
.fday. But at any rate, when the
i Ex- Governor. accompanied by SEN
ator Hebron and Dabney Parrish,
of Raymond, and c. w. Bolton
/ drove to the grand stand at the
race course at about ii O'Clock
/ there was something like 5000 peo-
pie assembled. which included quite
a throng Of ladies', though it Vas
estimated that the larger proper
tion of those who had donned the
/ Vardaman badge were bona fide
vote weilders. While these people
were assembled about the race
track and waiting to hear from the
White Chief there were appar-
emily as many more wearing the
/ badges who were moving through
1.-The Fair Grounds proper under the
impression that there would be no
speaking for several hours.
At any rate, it was distinct
ovation to Governor Vardaman, and
/ the crowds were there to cheer and
encourage by their presence or BY
vocal denominations, and, taking it
all round. the day was a success as
regards its special feature.
Governor Vardaman did not
speak from the judges stand. from
which the President of the United
States addressed the vast throng on
Nov. / last year. though that was
mot the 1mpelling reason for the
departure from previous custom.
He eaiEef get nearer to tbs
mass of his audience, and 50 a
portable rostrum had been impro-
vised and when the speaker. of the
occasion got ready to address the
people, this was brought by sturdy
men and set down in the middle Of
1.-THE race track, which was a better
arrangement.
After giving the crowd an oppor-
tunity to settle down State Senator
John L. Hebron, accompanying
Governor Vardaman, ascended the
improvised rostrum, the two being
vociferously cheered, and in q few
well. .chosen words the Senator pre-
sented his distinguished friend,
whom he declared needed no intro
lduction to a Mississippi audience.
He was, he declared. a man who
had been tried and found faithful
to every trust-and obligation lm-
posed upon him by the people, as
tspeaker of the House, as soldier for
his country and as governor, in
which office he ranked with John
M. Stone in ability and integrity.
When the ex-governor arose to
begin his address it was to stand
for several minutes without being
able to utter remark. owing to
1.-THE tumult of cheers and applause
which greeted him. He presented
the appearance of man cool, col
llected, serene and at himself. at
ltired In a we'll fitting suit of black
broadcloth. his long. waving locks.
once black as the plumage of the
rayen. plainly streaked with gray.
and altogether presenting pictur-
esque appearance.
For nearly two hours the speaker
held the attention of the large ma
jority Of those assembled, and was
repeatedly cheered to the echo. 1t
ESQ happened that just about the
time that he began his address a
kind Of sensation was created ow-
ing to the report that Belhaven
College. which occupied the beau
Itiful plateau Immediately north Of
| the grounds, had caught fire, and
| this led - d stampede Of a large
number of those assembled in the
ldirection of the column of thick,
black smoke.
Governor Vardaman spoke along
the usual lines. paying q gallant
tribute at the start to the ladies'
and also the old Confederate Vet
erans. He spoke in his usual
Iatrong, vigorous and direct style,
Towering national. political and
economic questions in clear, express
sive phraseoIogy. He Iauded Will
liam ] Bryan. He deftlg and
with intense sarcasm 81 which he
/ is a master, paid bis respects to-
the secret caucus the turning
and twisting and inanipula-
tions, SO much Of which has been
covered over the State during the
past seven months. and evoked
continuous cheers while On that
ct4n95o al for45o