The daily commonwealth. (Greenwood, Leflore Co., Miss.) 1916-1919, 1917-04-05

b mission. 1t Is believed that vess
: struck a mine.
HOSPITAL SHIPS SUNK.
(By Associated Press)
London, April Six hospital shiE
have been torpedoed or mined BY III
Central Powers since the beginnin
of the war, Thomas McNamarrs
field secretary Of the admiralty stat
ed in the House of Commons toda,
Lives lost numbered 247.
n n IA "A
vARDAMAN IGNORES ANTHEM
Is KISSED.
Mississippi Senator. and His Secretar,
and Mrs. Dinkins Remain at
Table, Though Everyone
Else Rises
Washington, April 4-"Is it necas
sary to rise in the midst Of a mea
while hotel orchestra is playing
''The Star Spang1ed Banner? Should
one risk his soup Of his demitasst
getting cold n order to show he il
patristicl" lys
"That," says the Washington Pest
"is question which was precipitated
! last night when the orchestra in q
totel dining room struck up the nation
al anthem. The main dining room
was crowded, and every one arose
that is, all except Senator James K.
Vardsman Of Mississippi and two men
who were dining with him. Senator
vardaman, who IL one Of the IL men
who opposed armed neutrality and
defeated it at the last session Of the
Sixty-fourth Congress, and his COM
panions kept their seats. The other
diners hissed and few minutes later
the senator left the dinings 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, one Of the ~ wilful men
Of the Senate, and party at dinner
In the New Ebbitt Hetel last night,
were jeered when they refused to rise
from their seats "a tho orchestra play
ed 1.-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-
tion was called to it he was not in
convenient position to stand at atten-
tion.
"The affair happened in the main
cafe Of the Ebbitt, which was crowded
with diners III 8 o'clock last night.
When the orchestra played the nation
IL anthem every person was quickly |
pn his feet and cheering. With the ex-
ception Of Senator vSrdAIhan and his |
secretary, A. Macy DinkinA and Mrs. |
who were the Others at the J
senator's table.
Senator vardaman and his guests
vat motionless, which attitude was
protested by numerous Aoots snd bis |
ses. The senator appeared annoyed
but was still sitting when the music |
ceased.
The party finished their dinner and
eft the cafe - 4 number Of critical
md uncomplimentary remarks were
directed 1T them.
The incident became the topic Of the
,vening among the other diners, and
I was recalled that Senator varda-
nan was one Of the II "wilful men
Who conducted . filibuster against the
lrmsd neutrality BILL"
Yardamsn Explains Incident.
Senator vardaman declared today
hat no American holds the Star
,pansled Banner in greater esteem
han does he. He says he 10 always
'eady to stand at attention when II Is
'layed, and would have done 50 last !
light had II not been for combina- 4
ion Of unusual circumstances.
"The orchestra was playing . med
ey," said Senator Vardaman. "Ab-
orbed In cohvsrsation ~ I was, / did
'ot notice vhsa tls music changed IN.
* q ! n IN lI I