Macon beacon. [volume] (Macon, Miss.) 1859-1995, 1911-03-31
SENATORIAL SITUATION
SENSIBLY SIZED UP.
Capt R. W. Banks Reviews Interestingly the Political
Situation in Mssssppi-Thinks Vardaman
Won't Win.
Pascagoula, Miss, March 25.


in Major Vardaman's candidacy a men
ace to the happiness of the people and
a danger to the prosperity of the state.
He impresses me as being an insincere
and mischieyous agitator whose teach
ings spring from selfish, overweening
ambition and will, if he finds a follow
ing, inevitably lead to domestic dissen
sion and the destruction of that poIlti-
cal tranquility without which there can
be neither wise nor safe government
secured to the southern states.
His election wOuld, believe, be more
than local disaster; it would be ca
lamity to the South and an everlasting
reproach to Mississippi.
If you put to me the question,
"Watchman, what of the night?" I
make answer: While Vardaman has a
number of admirers and Adherents in
jackson county who believe he will car
~ the county at the primaries in Au-
gust, there are too many citizens Of in
telligence and political integrity, too
many political men of honest thought
and common sense, if you please. who
are voters and who are too well advised
of his indifference to his official duties
and obligations, too familiar with his
short comings and graver offenses, and
of his loose ideas of law observance
and good morals. while governor, to
make it at all probable he will win at
the polls in Jackson county.
With the facts already before the
public, in reference to his use of G. &
8. l. r. K. pass No. 864 which, IN it
self, was bad enough, but which he
makes absolutely ineXcuSaOle and un-
pardonable by his disingenous state
ments and dishonorable conduct about
it, with the knowledge already before
the public of his acceptance and use.
throughout his gubernatOrial term of
Office, of telegraph franks from both
the Western Union and the Postal Tel
eRraph Companies; with the exposure
of his acceptance of unusual and ex-
pensive champagne" courtesies at the
hands of the Great Southern Hotel (of
which Captain ]. T. Jones is the re-
puted owner), and of his subsequent
ungracious illusions to his then host,
when he wrote in The Issue. "Old Man
Jones would walk across hell on a rot
ten plank to grab dirty dollar" with
the exposure of his evasions, equivOca-
tions, fables and fabrications, in con-
nection with other crimes of omission
and commission, IN and out of office, of
which he stands charged and of which
he appears to be guilty, he has, it
seems to me, very properly cooked his
goose" in Mississippi.
Again. Mississippi is distinguished as
a state which rarely makes a mistake
in selecting her representatives to the
United States senate.
Wise selections have been the rule
with her from her territorial days un-
til the present hour, and it is scarce
possible sheIwill err this year. The diff
ference in equipment, mental and moral,
between either Percy or Alexander and
Vardaman TO answer to the name Of
Missississippi and become spokesman
for her in the senate is too marked to
leave much room for doubt as to wheth-
er or not the honor will be conferred
upon Vardaman. No amount of vigor-
Gus protestation of innocence on his
part, or bold denial of his guilt on the
part of his partisans and fierce denun-
Citations of his opponents by him will
ever satisfy the proud, spirited people
of Mississippi of the majors innocence
Of the misdoings with which he stands
openly charged, so long as his self-re-
apecting pride is too small and his in
telIectual cowardice is too great for him
either to face his accusers or permit
them to face him on the charges he
brings behind their backs and dareS not
make to their faces. In the role he IL
playing, the people see too much re-
semblance to the vaunting kid inpu-
IDENTIFY railing at the passing wolf from
a place of safety on the housetOp.
Such tactics do not deserve success
and have never yet won with a brave
people.
From the best information / can get
from over the state. the trend of public
sentiment appears to be away from
Vardaman. His personal popularity is
passing; his political fortunes are wan
ing, and defeat stares him in the face
He 10 killing himself by ill-timed, ILL.,
founded, ungenerous. senseless abuse OF
others.
II time permitted, a roll call would
discover the fact that his appointees
and their henchmen are his main sup
mort. At the State Capital, when he
opened his campaign in the Coliseum
sppOiHtee, Msjor-GeneFsr" Chalme' .