The commonwealth. (Greenwood, Miss.) 1896-1923, 1917-04-11
VARDAMAN IGNORES ANTHEM
is KISSED.
Mississippi Senator and His Secretary
and Mrs. Dinkins Remain at
Table, Though Everyone
Else Rises.

Table, Though Everyone
Else Rises.
Washington, April 4-"Is it neces-
sary to rise in the midst of a meal
while a hotel orchestra is playing
"The Star Span Banner? Should
one risk his soup = his demitasse
| getting cold in order to show he is
patriotic?
"That," says the Washington Post,
"is a question which was precipitated
last night when the orchestra in a
otel dining room struck up the nation
al anthem. The main dining room
was crowded, and every one arose
that is, all except Senator James X.
Vardaman Of Mississippi and two men
who were dining with him. Senator
Vardaman, who is one of the II men
who opposed armed neutrality and
defeated it at the last session of the
Sixty-fourth Congress, and his ON
panions kept. their seats. The other
diners Kissed and a few minutes later
the senator left the dining room.
Several hotel men last night said
it was proper to stand when "The
Star Spangled Banner" is played, ev-
en- if ones consomme congeals while
he is on his feet"
In an account Of the same incident
the Washington Herald said:
Senator James K. Vardaman of
Mississippi, n of the ~ wilful men
of the Senate, and a party at dinner
in the New Ebbitt Hotel last night,
were jeered when they refused to rise
from their seats as the orchestra play
ed "The Star Spangled Banner"
Didn't Know Tune.
ITO a representative of the Wash
ington Herald Senator Vardaman ex-
planned that he did not recognize the
national air, and that when his atten-
ton was called to it he was not in a
convenient position to stand at atten-
ton.
"The affair happened in the main
cafe Of the Ebbitt, which was crowded
with diners at 8 o'clock last night.
When the orchestra played the nation
al anthem every person was quickly
on his feet and cheering, with the ex-
ception of Senator Vardaman and his
secretary, A. Macy Dinkins, and Mrs.
Dinkins, who were the others at the
senator's table.
Senator Vardaman and his guests
sat ~motionless, which attitude was
protested by numerous boots and his
SEES. The senator. appeared annoyed
but was still sitting when the music
ceased.
The party finished their dinner and
left the cafe as q number of critical
and uncomplimentary remarks were
directed at them.
The incident became the topic of the
evening among the other diners, and
it was recalled that Senator Varda-.
man was n Of the II "wilful men
who conducted q filibuster against the
armed neutrality BILL"
Vardaman Explains Incident.
Senator vardaman declared today
that no American holds the Star
Spangled Banner in greater esteem
than does he. He says he is always
ready to stand at attention when it is
played, and would have done so last
night had it not been for a combina-
ton of unusual circumstances.
"The orchestra was playing . med
ley" said Senator Vardaman. @Ab-1
sorbed in conversation as I was, I did
not notice when the music changed in
to the notes of the national anthem.
The first intimation / had was from .
drunken rev ut m adjoining table,
members of which demanded impera-
lively that / stand. / was so angered
at their incidence that ! oheyed the
natural instinct to refuse TO comply
with their demand, made in such IN
insulting manner. Before / could give
the matter any condensation, how-
ever. the medley had changed into IN
other tuna"