The Birmingham age-herald., 1917-03-07
Indian Chief of Missis- sippi Finds Himself in
 Unpopular Position
DENIES FILIBUSTERING ON NEUTRALITY BILL
Goes Into Explanation as to Why He Opposed Measure to Protect Honor of Nation, and Is
 Answered by Williams
By E, E, FRANTZ


 Jackson, Miss, March 6.-(Special. )-H old signs" hold good Senator James K. Vardamans ears must have burned to- day. The people of Mississippi have been said anything complimentary If there is not radical change in sentiment before the next primary election for senator, Mir. Vardaman will be found among the also rams, it is predicted. Because of his action at Washington Saturday in opposing the Presidents suggestions as to arming American vessels, senatf varda- man is being denounced and all ed from one end of Mississippi to the other. If this had been the first time MT. vardaman had voted with the enemies of the country the folks back home in old Mississippi might feel some compassion- that there was some excuse for him-but if has come to be habit with him to oppose what the President wants and urges on Congress, and his oldest and most consistent friends here do not at tempt to excuse or defend him, while it is freely predicted that he has reached the end of his political rope Before leaving for Washington to att tend the inauguration Governor Bilpo stated in effect that there was but one man in Mississippi against President wil- son and his policy (meaning Senator vardamanD, and that he was going to tell him so when he got to Washington It is generally understood that Governor ! Bilbo will measure lances with MT. Varda- man in the senatorial primary two years hence, and if he does, Mississippi will experience the liveliest and most sensa- tional campaign in her history. VARDAMAN WOULD EXPLAIN Washington, March 6.-Senators Varda- man of Mississippi, democrat, and Ken yon of Iowa, republican, two of the 12 senators who did not sign the Senate manifesto in favor of the armed neutral- ity and who were included in the group referred to by President Wilson as "a little group of willful men who had rendered the country helpless and con temptible'' before the world, explained to the Senate today that they had not been in complicity to prevent vote on that measure.
 Senator John Sharp Williams, replying particularly to his colleague, declared emphatically that President Wilson was right in his criticism of few senators who made legislation by an overwhelming majority impossible in the nations crisis, and that whatever might have been ther motive. theirs and not Congress act was responsible for the United States being helpless and contemptible'' before the world
 Senator vardaman said he did not de- sire to prevent a vote on the bill and had taken only 16 minutes to discuss it. He declared he was sorry there had been such savage and indelicate criticism of Congress by the President He said he did not favor the bill be- cause he was unwilling to delegate to the President the power vested in Con- gress, especially when it might bring on war;
 TAKES NO ORDERS
 Personally do not take orders from any man or any set of men outside the state of Mississippi said Senator Varda- man, "I am in favor of free and asaple discussion of a measure, and after that a vote'