Macon beacon. [volume] (Macon, Miss.) 1859-1995, 1911-02-10

| signed his name Round Trip Pass No. S64
on the return trip March %, 1904, and he
knew it was complimentary pass, accepted
| IN fragrant violation of the law, when he did
| so.
| Thousands Of people in Mississippi know
the signature of James X. Nardaman, which
has been attached to many official docu-
nents, eampangn circulars, checks drafts,
| notes, and other things We do not believe
hat any of them, after comparing it carefully
furnished you by Warden ]. ]. Henry; that
with other signatures in their possession, are
soing to doubt its authenticity.
Really, the only unfamiliar thing about
shat signature is the fast that it is not pre-
ceded by his stereotyped cordially and sin
cere1y."
We will briefly consider the legal as
,ects of the question, and the measure of
liability involved.
Mr.. Nardaman says, Il do know that the
PASS was not issued at my request"
1t has never been charged that the pass
was issued at Mr.. Vardaman's request. 1t IS
our purpose to take up later in the campaign
some railroad passes that were issued at his
personal request.
And it makes not the slightest difference
whatsoever, whether the pass issued at
Mr. Vardamans request. The acceptance of
same constituted the offense. In proof of this
we again call attention to Section 1906
Chapter 28, Mississippi Code of 1906, as
brought forward from the laws of 1884, page
As, as follows:
IF any officer, State, county, district
municipal, except the railroad commissioners
when in actual discharge of official duties
shall travel or ride upon any railroad without
paying absolutely and without any guilt, trick
subterfuge, or evasion whatsoever, the same
fare required of passengers generally, or if any
railroad company, officer employee of
any railroad company, shall permit any such
State county, district municipal officer ex-
cept railroad commissioners when in the dcrual
discharge of official duties, to so travel or
ride, he or it shall be guilty of misdemean-
or and shall be fined not less than fly dol
lars, nor more than Ave hundred dollars or be
imprisoned IN the county Jail not less than
zen days more than sixty, both"
This is the law of Mississippi today, it was
he law when James K. Vardaman was serv-
ing as Governor, and it has been the law
for twenty-sx years.
To say that the pass was not issued at his
request, brings Mr.. Vardaman within the
meaning of the language above quoted about
the of guile, trick subterfuge."
It makes difference whether he delibe-
rately connived at his own seduction, or
a coy and reluctant listener to the siren song
OF the corporation. He knew the law, and as
Governor of the State, charged with the
rigid enforcement of the law. Yet, within
little more than two months after taking
solemn oath to enforce the constitution and
the statutes, we find him a fragrant viola
tor.
The moment he rendered Round Trip Pass
No. s64 to the conductor of the north-bound
G. & ST.. train, at that moment Mr.. Varda.
man was guilty of misdemeanor, defined BY
the statutes and made himself liable to a fine
of not exceeding $500 and not exceeding sixty
days in jail, or both such fine and imprison-
ment
So much for the legal aspect of the case