Macon beacon. [volume] (Macon, Miss.) 1859-1995, 1910-02-18
CAPT. BOB BANK
WRITES INTERESTING LETTER TO
MR.. CAVETT.
An Old. Time, True-Blue Democrat and
SOutherner, who Sees Things as they
are, and Writes Of Things He Sees
Them.

ure of publishing a letter from
Captain Bob Banks to him. Cap
tain Banks is well known to many
of our people and his character
and reputation is such as to lend
weight to any position he takes OF
any utterance he gives out on
public questions. Aside from
that this particular letter is SO
interesting and so fnll of happily
expressed sentiments that like
good wine, it needs no bush. The
frankness of the writer, his free
dom from bitterness or vindic-
tiveness, and the sound common
sense and humanity running
through the whole letter, make
it an unusual and commendable
: contribution to the literature of
the present political contest over
the senatOrship.
Hon. E. D. Cavett,
Jackson, Miss.
My dear Emmett;
You are voting for fine man.
There can be no question as to
Alexander's honesty, capacity or
fidelity. If elected he will wear
the senatorial toga becomingly
and worthily. and never give
Mississippians cause to be as
hamed of his selection.
| am sorry you are committed
to Vardaman for second choice,
but have no criticism to make of
you for that; or any of him to
you, except to say think it
would be a calmaity to elevate
man of his calibre to the u. S.
Senatorship. In compass of mind
and in political and social ethics,
he is no more comparable to Alex
ander or Percy than - - and
= are in manner or morals, or
any other thing that is decent
and honorable, to you or John
MoInnis. He isn't your sort of
nan, Emmett, by long shot; and
It is simply a question of time
when you will know it. And
chen to think of how he would
.ook in the place-answering to
he name of MissiSsippi-graced
n years gone-by by, Jefferson
Davis, L. O. G.. Lamar, J. z.
George, E. C, Walthall l grant
you, he is man of some gifts and
many attainments. He is good
1t paraphrase-quick to borrow
deas but slow to give due credit
or them-and hence plagiarizes
lnblushingly. He is something
IF an actor. too. He recites his
,lagiarisms and paraphrases we'll
md makes an impression always
upon the unthinking and igno-
ant! Indeed, he is an orator
lmong declaimers, and a de-
laimer among orators. That all.
Imagine Vardaman in foren-
,ic encounter with a Blaine, a
Conkling, a Hoar, a John Sher-
nan or an Evarts Then, indeed,
f he were representing Mississ-
opi in the u. S Senate 1T would
.ppear that the dear old State
vas in hard luck-"playing her
Jhite chips' and needing Heay-
ms help.
Adam Byrd is also a good man.
5ut do not think he is the equal
f Alexander or Percy in cultiva-
ion but he is honest, fearless
nd a thoughtful, growing man,
nd, as / wrote the other day,
lyle, too, has a head chock full
''hoSS sense" and a heart in
i'm as big as a mule. " But
ou are right stick to Alexander |
ntil you land him now or next |
ime-today, tomorrow next
,eek, next year; but for Gods
AXE don't drop him to go to the
ther fellow. Die in the last |
itch with Alexander, but don't |
down or go up with Varda-
an.
Do not imagine that aught 1
ave written of Governor Varda-
an is prompted by personal ILL
i'll whatever. On the contrary.
would gladly do him any perso-
ii kindness in my power. do
)t, however, admire him as a
)liticfan and have small respect
i'd little patience for many of
q editorial utterRnces. which
% often. arrogant and eGotisti-