The Caucasian. (Shreveport, La.) 1900-192?, 1910-02-22
VARDEMAN FIGHT
1t Is Said that His Supporters Viii Of
fer Resolution to Throw Senatorial
Fight into Mississippi Legislature.

Fight into Mississippi Legislature.
Jackson, Miss, Feb. 2I-The support
ers of Ex-Governor Vardeman are dc
claring that they intend to pull off
something" when the Democratic caucus
convenes Tuesday night to resume bal
loting in the senatorial contest.
Thus far it has been impossible to
learn just what that something is 60
ing to be, for, to all outward appear
ances, the deadlock is even tighter than
ever, and neither Vardeman nor any
other candidate can hope to be nominat-
ed unless Withdrawals take place, or a
process of elimination is attempted.
The current belief that the Some
thing promised for Tuesday night will
be resolution seeking to dissolve the
caucus and throw the contest into the
Legislature for settlement on an open
ballot
However, if such resolution should
be adopted-and it appears very likely
that such a thing will happen--there is
no assurance that it would result in
breaking the deadlock, unless resolu-
ton is also adopted to drop the lowest
candidate an each succeeding ballot.
That proposition has been twice reject
ed within the past week, and in very
decisive manner in each instance.
1t is not reasonable to believe that a
substitution of the Legislature for the
caucus, and the use of the open ballot,
instead of the secret ballot would ma
terlally benefit any candidate, or cause
a marked change in the situation 1t is
| commonly known, in nearly every in
stance how each legislator is voting.
The CAUCUS has been in existence more
than six weeks, and there are no longer
any secrets as to the personnel of the
| following of each candidate. Each as
pirant has list that is practically ac-
curate showing the affiliations of the va
rious members, and very few of them
have any hesitancy about saying for
whom they have voted at any stage of
the caucus.
While the hope generally prevails that
something will happen to break the
deadlock this week, no man claims a
prophetic vision sufficiently clear to
show how it is going to be brought
about. In all general aspects, the situa-
ton is practically the same as when the
caucus adjourned last Friday
LARGER ATTENDANCE EX-
PECTED.
1t is believed, however, that there will
be larger attendance of members dur
| ing the present week, and that every leg
islator who can possibly get to Jackson
will be here and take part in the bal
loting.
Each candidate has sent out earnest
appeals to his following to be on the
scene, and this tends to strengthen the
belief that the deadlock may come to
an end.
During the past week there was an
average of from Il to IS absentees on
each ballot, a majority of whom were
not paired. There will be little or no
pairing each week, for the candidates
have instructed their following not to
extend this courtesy to opponents.
Hon. L. Pink Smith, clerk of the eau
Gus, and who is generally recognized as
one of the best posted public men in the
State, has expressed very interesting
opinion on the present status of the
fight. He says it will either be final adj
journment without breaking the dead
lock, Senator Percy or Senator Varde-
man." Mr.. Smith is fellow townsman
Of Mr.. Percy but his opinion is not
biased by personal preference, and there
are goodly number of close observers
who coincide with his views.