The Grenada sentinel. [volume] (Grenada, Miss.) 1868-1955, 1910-08-19
Extracts IRON Letter Of J. r.
Howarth of Scott County to
Gov. Vardaman.

Gov. Vardaman.
On account of the high position held
by you, certain trust funds were placed
in your hands for safe keeping and prop
er reimbursement, notably the contin
gent Fund, the Battleship Fund, the
Spanish War Claims Fund, and the Bry
an Medal Fund. Without charging you
with the improper use of one cent OF
either of these funds, ask in all can
dor, if the manner in which you hand
led these trust funds was businesSllke,
and have you given proper accounting
for same? Did you handle these funds
as you would require an agent or trust
ed employee to handle large sums of
money belonging to you? Was the man
ner in which you handled these funds,
such as to invite confidence and trust,
or distrust and suspicion? Believe me.
Sir, when l say, that no man is above
suspicion, especially if by his own acts
or carlessness he invites suspicion.
These are questions that thousands Of
Mississippians have asked themselves,
and are asking one another, and it Is
not enough to console yourself with the
thought, or dismiss the matter with
- the assertion, THAT my word is
sufficient, l am above suspicion.
Do YOU not realize the fact that the
attitude assumed by you in the care,
and disbursement of these several
trust funds, has dragged the fair name
OF Mississippi in the mire? Has be-
smirched the fair escutcheOn of the
commonwealth? That your method of
handling these funds is actually un-
thought of in the realms of safe ane
sane business circles? In the face of
all these adverse criticism how can you
remain silent? Not only do remain 81
lent, but fold your mantle around you
and actually go before the people with
out deigning any explanation, and ask
that they bestow further trust and high
er honors upon you?
Judged in the light of cold reason
calmy and dispassionately by your offic-
ial record, by the acts performed by
you, as an officer-the servant of the
people, l ask in the name of decency
reason, how can you have the hardihood
and to go before the people again, ask.
inglfor further trust and higher honors?
You established weekly newspaper
in or Ter that you might hold converse
with your loyal followers; and in order
that through it you might disseminate
your ideas and policies, instruct your
friends and political followers, unfurl a
political banner around which they
might rally in future political cam
kpaigns. =
Your paper was circulated in thous-
ands of homes in the state
What food did you mete out to these
hungry, thirsty souls dependent upon
YOU fsr guidance? Let US see. The cne
Golden thread, that lrn5 through all
the De sges of The Issue, is Vardaman; but
few articles sppear in its pages tnat are
net rsplete with fulscme praise for
him. the more falls. ne that praise is,
+ba greater is the prominence given the
orticle. Indeed the paper is filled with
letters containing fElscme praise for
Vardaman, frcm o.d men in their dotage
from Young men in their homage, and
from the ignorant, reveling in sheer ex
cass OF ignorance and vanity. In this
connection permit me to say, that i
look not at the language with which
thought is clothed, for language is but
he shell-the outer garment that en-