The Birmingham age-herald., 1916-09-16
Mississippi Senator in Bir- mingham Talks of Ma
 tional Issues and Politics
OPPOSED PRESIDENT
 IN SOME OF HIS ACTS
Praises Senator Underwood as One of Nations Great Leaders-Believes Democrats Will Gain Victory
 in November

'The progressive SOW of Maine has certainly returned to her wallow with loud and lusty grunt."
 These were the sentiments of Sena- tor James K. Vardaman of Mississippi, who arrived in Birmingham last night to spend few days with his daugh- ter, Mrs. A. l.. Farley, and MT. Fair ley, when asked what he thought Of the recent Maine elections.
 This is a paraphrase on an old bib Heal expression,' said Senator Varda- man Many of the democrats point to the republican majority of 13.00O with virtual victory for democracy. For the life of me cannot agree with my fellow democrats on this proposition. democratic governor, senator and one congressman were defeated in the recent election This swept the state of all democratic offices.
 Senator Johnson of Maine, demo- crat and man of the highest integ- rity and intelligence, was defeated by a man named Hale, whose only quali- fications. I am told, were that he was the son of his father, the possessor of a rich grandfather. and had the brand of republican on him." The senatotr pounded his fist on a table nearby to further emphasize his remarks. q do not look upon the result of the Maine elections as having any great bearing on the presidential race. I am con vinced that MT. Wilson will be the victor in the fight this November"
 Senator Vardaman is probably one of the best known and most pie turesque men in public life in the Uni- ted States today. He looks today as he did 10 years ago. His long, flow ing black hair interminged with a touch of gray is still brushed back off the forehead and hangs several inches below the back of his collar. He has been the stormy petrel in the seething sea of politics in Mississippi for the past 20 years.
 Totally different from the average run of men, Senator Vardaman is a unique character in the annals of po1i- tics in the United States. A forceful speaker, who does not fear saying whatever he wishes to say and who says it in a way that makes the most apathetic citizen sit up and take mo- tice he has attracted attention throughout the country.
 He still dresses in solid white or in black suits. This has been his prac- tce for years and he has retained that mark of individuality despite what peo- pie may say or think. After all, am plain man of the people and for the people," is a remark he often makes and has always lived up to.
 Don't you think President Wilson has had more trials than any other President?" the senator was asked
 President Wilson has had demo- cratic Congress that has co-operated with him throughout his regime" he said.
 'The Mexican policy, the strike and the struggle to keep the country out of war must have caused him consid- erable trouble" it was suggested.
 ''The fact that MT. Wilson has kept the United States out of war entities him to receive the support of every patriotic American citizen. The Mex ican situation is plain. The President has simply let things rock along. He has realized those Mexicans have the right to fight among themselves. MT. Wilson has walked up the hill and then walked down again. He sent bat tleships to Vera Cruz and then brought them back. He sent General Pershing with an army into the heart or Mex leo and he has brought him back again."
 PURSUIT OF VILLA
 How about the capture of villa?" he was asked.
 "An army has about as much chance of catching Villa as an elephant has to catch a jack rabbit on vast plain which stretches as far as the eye can see. Villa is probably on crooked legged, little toug broncho with a handful of half-starved. half-naked Mexicans. It would be easy for the army of Villa to get few buckets and cross the Mexican border into the United States as hot tamale peddlers without anyone knowing the difference. The Mexican situation will right itself eventually. There will be little if any trouble between Mexico and the Uni ted States in the future. This is my opinion of the Mexican problem
 Senator Vardaman rose to his full six feet of height and, pounding the table with his fist. exclaimed: Re gardless of what the democratic ad- has done, wish to state 1t has done better than any republican since the party was first organized No President has been the President that MT. Wilson has, and no republican will ever be as good an executive.
 q have not always agreed with the policies of the President. l was not in favor of spending all these millions Of dollars for preparedness. was not for the idea of building billion dollars