The Aberdeen weekly. [volume] (Aberdeen, Miss.) 1878-1933, 1917-03-30
Vne1aUnn 0twoo ae11o AnUeT to
All 1CG1t1coDms.

Vlgk00urg, Mass, MArcn H. Anc
following letter from United States
Senator James X. Vardaman was
received here by Secretary Frank
Andrews of the vicksburg Board OF
Trade:
The letter is an answer to the res
oIution passed by the board Of trade
condemning Senator Varlaman on
his stand on armed neutrality in the
Senate. The letter follows:
United States Senate. Committee
on Coaservationso National Re-
sources.
Washington, March 10. 1917,
Hon. Frank Andrews. Secretary.
the Board OF Trade, Vicksburg.
Miss:
My Dear Sir have your favor
of the 9Th, with enclosure. It is dis
tasteful to me at all times to have
any of my constituents disapprove
my official conduct. 1t is my pur-
pose in the performance OF my duty
to serve rather than to please. Would
l be fair If l were to say that If the
members of your board had desired
to do justice instead of fault finding;
they would have waited until they
knew the facts in the case before
passing the resolution OF condemna-
ton. There is not scintilla OF truth
in the statement that / had any part
whatever, in the defeat of the pres
idential senate program. l would
not have voted for the resolution
giving the president power, uncon-
ditionally to arm merchant ships,
but | know that | was in a very
small minority. ! was sure that II
the measure ever came to a vote 1t
would pass by a very large majority.
But | believe in majority rule OF
Congress as l do among the people.
and / remained at my post OF duty
in the chamber day and night dur
ing the entire session assisting In
every way within my power to pro-
mote the business Of the Senate. l
am not complaining of your injus-
tice, but l simply want to call at
tention to it that - may settle with
your own conscieiices in the matter
An extraordinary session OF Con.
press has been called and / do not
expect to vote for this resolution
giving the president the power te
bring on war between the United
States and Germany. if, indeed
Germany should be able, under tn
circumstances, to wage war on us
which l doubt. But l am not go
ing to be party to measure whicl
l believe may possibly bring on war
sacrifice human lives. break tn
hearts of women, orphan children
and burden posterity with an un
bearable debt in order that fey
men may grow rich and richer still
in carrying on the commerce be
tween New York and London.
promised the people of Mississippi
when they elected me to the Senat
that would keep the commissio
stainless and l will not, so help M
God. do anything that even savol
of insinceraty, dishonesty. dissim
lation or disloyalty. l will not b
party to the position that tn
United States government maintai
an attitude of neutrality toward th
bellieerent powers of Europe, whe
its conduct makes it as much OF
ally as Russia or Italy. No. Wi
not do that. When / return m
commission to the people OF Missi
sippi, it will not have the stain
the blood of soldiers upon it force
into a war tor self and pecunial
profits, nor the tears of broken hear
ed mothers, wives and orphan chi
dren. War. in my judgment,
glorious, however, horrible. if wage
in defense of principles for hums
riehts-but a war of conquest
war for commercial plunder, is atr
ciOus.
Now. these are my yiews-if
| be treason. make the most Of it.
with great respect. l have t
honor to be
Cordially and sincerely,
-