The Semi-weekly leader. (Brookhaven, Miss.) 1905-1941, 1911-08-09
FOUR ACRES OF PEO-
PIE GREET YARDAMAN
Capital Vas AbIaze With Lights BllbO
and Other Speakers Address
Crowds.

There were acres of people in
Jackson on Monday evening to
participate in the great Vardaman
demonstration. 1t is conseryatlvely
estimated there were 5000 people
present, which number represented
about one-fifth of the Senator
elects total vote in Mississippi. 1t
was solid phalanx of thoughtful,
Intelligent and patriotlcally inclin-
ed people massed together to do
honor to a great occasion and to a
popular citizen. There was no
mistaking the spirit of the occa-
sion. the people coming by the
multiplied thousands to pay tribute
to man of the people. one who
had been tried in the crucible of
public service, who had been the
object of vituperation and the
severest criticism to which public
man could be subjected. to emerge
from the test by a pride-given
majority of his fellow-voters.
AT precisely 5 O'Clock the signal
was fired. The parade started
with brass band in the fore. and
SWep Taylor, a most ardent Varda-
man supporter who gave time and
money and himself to the conduct
of the campaign. riding on horse
back majestically ahead. Follow
ing the band were 200 or more
riders, each attired in white. and
each with. red neektie, symbolic
of red neck, J" wrapped about the
collar. Following the riders were
a thousand men carrying torches
and transparent signs, each inscrib-
ed with a different motto; each
conveying a memory of some utter
ances made by Vardaman in his
campaign speeches. people in auto
mobiles and carriages. and more
marchers. In all there were 5000;
people in the parade. Some Of the
riders were ladies. 1t was estimat-
ed that 5000 or more slept in the
streets of the city until the time
arrived when trains started on re-
turn trips, in four directions of the
compass.
No such parade has ever before
been Witnessed in the State. It
was i demonstration which told of
sponlaneity Of sentiment and pur-
pose There was music poured
for w insteumentallsfs with that
lnose Significant music which
springs from the thousands of
human throats upon beholding the
noted White Chief as he stood be-
fore them, pledging all that is best
and truest in him tothe service of
those who have trusted and reposed
confidence in him by their votes.
Incidental to the celebration
there were certain concomitant fea-
lures which contributed to its i'm
pressiveness. There were artillery
salutes, bonfires, skyrockets, vari-
colored lights and half a mile of
torches borne by men in all walks
of life, but above all, evident
human interest in the occasion.
Preceding the eloquent and patriot
ic address Of Senator-elect Varda-
man, there were brief and feIicitous
speeches by men who have been
more or less conspicuous through
their service to the cause represent
ed by Major Vardaman, either
Statewide or IN their respective
localities.
Senator-elect Vardaman spoke
longer than any of the other speak
ers. He was the last speaker of
the evening and his eIoquence never
flowed more smoothly than Monday
night when beginning his address.
Il have looked, I" said Major Var
daman. upon a great many inter-
estin9 and inspiring scenes in my
life. Here the speaker gave
rapturous word picture of the beau
ties noted in his many travels and
took up no small part of his re-
marks with deeply sentimental
references to himself and family.
But none of these things" he
went on, ''can nearly approach the
scene which meets my gaze to-
night. ] thank DR.. Hall for his
invocation of this meeting, for /
think If there ever was a time
when God was needed to redeem
Mississippi that time is right now.
/ am not here to animadvert on the
faults and mistakes of others.
You understand my views. And
what | have said to you from the
Tennessee line to the gulf and from
the western boundary line of the
State to Alabama, meant and be-
Iieved. These statements came
right warm off my heart. want
to be Senator of the whole people.
I want to say that | have long since
learned that no good will come
of hating some little weak human
being simply because be happens to
hate you. II man tells lie on
me it does not hurt me, but it
damns his own soul.
II want this government return
ed TO you, the people Of my State,
he declared. I want to keep Mis-
sissippI in the hands Of the white
people. ! could 20 to Washington
and allow predatory wealth and cor
p0rate power to stalk rampant and
be heraIded hero BY the metro
politan press. But ! am going to
Washington and strike aOainst