The Chickasha daily express. (Chickasha, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1899-current, 1914-10-28
Mississippi Statesman is Heard by
Large Audience Points Out
the Duty Of Citizen to
Government
PUTS EMPHASIS
ON RACE QUESTION
Says Repeal Of Amendments aud
Modification Of Laws is Solu-
ton = Implacable Foe OF
Liquor.Ev

Senator James X. Vardaman, the
picturesque Mississippi statesman,
was distinct disappointment to many
who heard him for the first time in his
lecture delivered Tuesday evening in
the auditorium Of the Oklahoma Col
lege for Women, under the auspices of
the United Charities. He had no horns,
he was not a fire eater, he didn't rant
or rage when he discussed the race
question, he manifested no symptoms
OF savagery, he was not even eccen-
tric except in the possession of the long
hair which has made him the target OF
the caricaturist.
What the audience saw was man of
distinguished appearance, typically
southern, frank, open countenance,
ease and grace in every movement
What they heard was a poet and a
preacher, for Vardaman is both of
these. He is poetic in temperament
and modes of expression; in his flights
of eloquence he reyels in imagery and
diction no less rich and musical than
the famous Bob Taylor employed and
his lecture is adorned with wealth
Of apt poetic quotations, indicating q
man of letters of discriminating
taste. AS preacher, Vardaman pos
sesses to a marked degree the qualities
of the successful pulpiteer. He ap-
peals to the heart and conscience and
he seeks to move men to action he is
intensely earnest and evidently deeply
sincere; he utilizes eloquence, pathos
and humor with equal facility in his
efforts to enforce his argument. Add
ed to the gifts of the poet and preach
er, Vardaman has voice of great
charm, his elocution is effective and
his whole equipment makes rare
combination for popular platform
speaker.
ernment" was the subject Of Senator
Vardaman's lecture and throughout he
sought to impress the idea that the
solution of every problem pertaining
to government rests ultimately with
the citizen. The perpetuity Of the re-
public and the wise handling Of all the
great economic and social questions
all depended upon the intelligent ac-
tion of the ordinary citizen and again
and again the speaker repeated, Don't
forget that" To the ordinary citizen
was assigned an exalted position. sour
presidents. governors, senators and all
the rest are not rulers but merely our
hired servants. No president or gov
ernor can honor a single one of you.
Taking up number of issues Of the
day, the speaker touched very briefly
on the tariff question, merely observ-
ing that others had said quite enough
on that subject and adding that pro
gress had been made toward the solu
ton of it, Other topics treated wers
federal Judiciary, the race problem ant
prohibition The speaker declared
that in his opinion all judges shoulS
be elected and he was opposed Il
life tenure in office He also said th'
! makers of the federal constitution
never intended that the courts shoul'
have power to invalidate any act 0
congress by declaring it unconstitu
tional. IF that power had been givel
to the supreme court. the constitution
would never have been ratified" sal
he.
81 am proud of the fact that the frs
vote / cast in my life was against tn
liquor traffic., said the speaker 9TH
liquor traffic is the cause of more wo
than any other one evil and | hav
opposed it all my life AS Unite
States senator shall do everythin
in my power to wipe out the traffic !
the nation"
When the speaker reached the rae
problem it was clear that he wa
fright at home" and that he felt NOR
: deeply upon this question than an
other issue with which he dealt G.
ing back to the early history OF th
slave traffic in this country and ira