East Mississippi times. (Starkville, Miss.) 19??-1926, 1911-06-16
VARDAMAN'S CANDIDACY.
Discussed by Hon. B. F. Bell from a
Logical Standpoint.
Editor Times:

IfODaDly, never before III the
history of Mississippi has the dem
ocratic family been so disrupted
and torn to pieces by it's members
as it is today. Dissentions have
arisen which have eliminated in
bitterness and strife that make the
heart sick and inspire poignant
grief in those who love the ways of
pence and harmony. Truly, in the
present political situation, the faith
er has risen up against the son and
brother against brother and the
voice of discord is heard in every
quarter. The conservative ele-
ment of our citizenship are crying
peace" but echo replies, there
is no peace.
For this political chaos there
, must be some cause. For this con-
ditiOn of party disruption and res
ultand hatred, in many instances,
between men who ought to stand
shoulder to shoulder in the great
battle of state progress. there is
unquestionably some spirit of evil
bent. | take it there is not an adj
vocate of peace, not an exponent
of common and mutual prosperity
who takes delight in present con-
ditions. If | am right in my
premises, then | believe that this
tis the time in Mississippi politics
when every man ought to think
for himself with q view to the dis
coyery of the cause of eur present.
political troubles.
When we find men aspiring to
political preferment, whose lives
have demonstrated q determination
to uphold the bannar of honesty
and integrity, assailed, naligned,
slandered and charged, never spe-
cilically, but i'll general way,
with all manner of evil and wrong,
to the man who desires TO see the
right prevail, and whose purposes
are true and patriotic, there was
meyer a more opportune time for
character study. We have before
!. us i'll the present senatorial cam
paign, three aspirants for this
high office. Two of these gentle
men had never held political office
before Senotor Percy was selected
by the famous secret caucus. The
other has spent many years in 20
ilitical office.
Fx-Gevernor Vardaman h as
made his political record and it is
left behind hima as a. test of his
honesty and integrity and to be
compared with his prediction
promises. Surely, it is not crime
to adopt Mr.. Valdamar's own pur-
pose and plan with reference to
other public officials, and let the
blessed sunlight of publicity shine
in upon his own record. If he
W Is right i'll making declaration of
this purpose, is it wrong for any
right thinking man to do the SAME
with reference to Gov. VardamaD
If this question is answered in tho
affirmative then Mr.. VurdaIna,
must stand or fall by by the off.
cial record he has made. re if is
answered negatively, then we con.
cede that it is none of Mr.. yarda.
mans business, all noac of on,
business how our public official,
manage our governmental affairs
aud they should never be REQUIRED
to render an acc ,unt of their STEW
hrdship. Can we, q free peonle
who boast of our democratic form
of government, concede the uepa
= tive to this great question? Tbinl
about it! 1t means that our do
clared con stitutional rights as citi
zens are as'a sounding brass an,
tinkling cymbal'
2 7HOn' the other hand, if we answe
the question rdffirmatively, then
" lot only q right Of Gov, Varda
tnaff to watch every act of our pal,
lie servants and@o take them t
task tor any MIST asance or anal