The Semi-weekly leader., 1911-05-10
PERSONALITIES IN THE SENATORIAL
CAMPAIGN.

olhte nave dSseEteus anu nave re-
ieerated time and again, and con-
tinue to assert. that Governor Var
daman's 5 canvass has been conducted
mainly. If not exclusively. upon
lines Of personal vituperation and
abuse. In this. they are greatly 10
error They misunderstood, or
they misrepresent, the basis of the
campaign that is being made 10
the State, directly for the election
of Governor yardaman for the
United States Senate. and broadly
and comprehensively for the cause
of good, honest government and
decent politics in the State.
We can readily and clearly place
this matter in its proper light. by
a simple, straightforward and can
did summing up Of the political
situation.
Governor Vardaman's campaign
may be termed what is known in
military parlance, as the offensive
defensive.
In its attracting features it con-
sists in an arraignment Of the
various devious and indefensible
methods that were employed by
his political opponents to defeat
him in the senatorial caucus, and
by the majority in the Legislature
in their schemes for cIoaking and
screening the meritricious work of
the caucus.
The proceedings of the caucus,
its inner workings, and its sinister
purposes. have all been laid bare
to the people of the State by the
friends of Governor Vardaman.
The partisan intervention of the
State executive, with all of its
patronage and official favors. in the
caucus to strengthen the combina-
tion against Governor Vardaman;
the increase of executive appointive
officers created in order to arm the
State Executive with superadded
powers and influence to compass his
defeat; the extraordinary and un-
precedented intrigues of the Sena-
torial Inquisition contrived and de-
vised for the purpose of effectuat-
ing and strengthening, if possi-
BILE, the partisan cause of the COM
mon combination, have all been ex-
posed, explained and demonstrated
to the people of the State.
The barterings and tradings in
executive appointments, involving
the fate of important legislation,
and even the defeat Of an impor-
tant and urgent constitutional
amendment that stood in their way.
and the dalliance with Federal pa
tronage. have all been disclosed by
the Vardaman press and speakers
since the opening OF the canvass.
All of this, in the view Of the
anti-Vardaman papers. is charar-
terized as campaign of personal
abuse.
The criticism of the doings of
the State Executive. extraordinary
and unprecedented in their charac-
ter, and the partisan performances
of the caucus majority of the Leg
islature, are characterized as per-
sonal abuse.
These are all public matters.
They affect vitally the great
interests of the people of the State;
they sap the very moral fibre of the
State. and they are all legitimate
subjects of criticism, Of structure,
and of discussion for the press and
for the stnmps, and it is proper, it
is indispensable that they should
be understood by the people in or
der that they may pass judgment
upon them. either of condemnation
or of disapproval and condemna-
tion.
Gov. Vardaman's canvass has
been based and is being conducted
on these lines. and it is unfair and
unjust. as we'll as absurd, to say
that this is the waging Of person
al war of abuse and vituperation
against the opponents of Governor
Vardaman.
The skin of his political enemies.
is very thin on these spots. and it
is not in any degree surprising
when they are touched that they
should finch from the caustic that
is being applied. or that they should
raise the old cry of persecution.
that has been raised from time
immemorial by the transgressor.
Now, for the other side Of the
picture. Governor Vardaman has
been assaiIed by torrent of per-
sonaI abuse and vituperation that
was never witnessed before in the