The Grenada sentinel. [volume] (Grenada, Miss.) 1868-1955, 1918-07-05

+oCtE OF DlSlOyal LlCoraCure,' WnlCn ufnlSne SaHOLHcT
Illustration of the circulation of such publications as Tom wat
Magazine, the Issue and the stuff now being sent out from
goes to substantiate our statement in The Sentinel of las
week wherein we held that every kicker against the Govern
nent and every German sympathizer were for our Junior Sen
The case of draft insurrection cited by the Dispatch occur
red at Iron Springs, Neshoba county. One OF the men charged
harborng the alleged slackers was one of the men that as
in passing resolutions endorsing Vardaman. Read wha
The recent Ncshoba county incidents, in connection wherewith a
number of otherwise lawabiding citizens of what is known Is the Iron
Springs community have been brought into disrepute and placed in the
terrible position of opposition to their Government in wartime and
United States soldiers we're summoned from Fort Morgan to compel
me to fulfill their citizenship obligations, give startling illustration of
the awful harm that has been wrought in this and other sections of the
United States through circulation of diloyal if not openly seditious lit
erature.
The Dispatch has often been informed that the Tom Watson Mag
azine had attained widespread circulation in the Iron Springs neighbor-
hood, where all this trouble occurred, disoyal utterances we're having a
baleful effect on the attitude of the people toward then Government.
But never until yesterday did we receive actual frs-hand informa-
ton concerning this matter. Then Mr.. P. c. Drew, a mail carrier who
brought in Albert Joiner, one If these alleged sackers' made the dlrect
statement that the influence which first set young Joiner wrong was the
reading of this damnabe Watson magazine. With the seeds of dis!oy
atty thus sown in his mind and heart he went naturally rom step tic
step in a civil declension, until fnany-sad to relate!-he and others
similarly influenced yer arrayed in apparent open opposition to the
greatest Government under Gods shining sun. which is just fight
ing for its very existence and needs the loyal help of every citizen.
And now, just to show how these influences ramify and connect
up n a political way, The Dispatch is going to reveal to its readers some
thing which it has held in allegiance for nearly a year.
We do this sobery and solemny, making n o accusations, adding
little comment 81 III own except Il tate he facts N the we
it to the people who read and ponder these interlocking circumstances
to make their W deductions, as w e have been compelled to make u
Some of our readers may remember that last August, when feel
M began to u very high, W e took occasion to express u opinions
of the conduct of the Junior United States Senator from this state.
Immediately some of Mr.. vardamans parhsans sought to defend
his course and conduct. After careful thought we announced edtonaly
tina. the columns of The Dispatch would be closed to any defense Of Mr.:
Vardaman, stating as our reason that we considered his acts in Con-
gress rs potentially dEloyal and held that there is no defense for dis
loyalty"
We realized at the time that this action OIL part would cause
bitter disapproval in some quarters but w had no idea that it would
show itself in such concrete form as it did.
Under date of August /, 1917, there came to IS through the mail
from Dufee, Miss, the news of a meeting held and the adoption Of GER
tain resolution which we were asked to print These resolutions were as
follows:
"We, the citizens of and near Iron Springs community, notice
that The Meridian Dispatch refuses to publish anything in behalf
of our noble Senator, James K vardaman, and whereas be it e
solved that W e do condemn said paper for its undemocratic stand,
and from o o n W do hereby pledge ourselves, individually and
collectively, not to subscribe for said Dispatch"
Appended to these resolutions were the names of some thirty cit
liens of that Iron Springs community. Though we were asked at the
time to publish these names, W e have decided not to do 80 though
the complete list with all its significance is still in possession, for
the reason that we have no desire to bring into notoriety now, in such a
connection, men who perhaps have since seen the error of their ways,
and, we hope, are o lined back of the Government of the United
States for loyal service In fact w believe many OF them nave chang
ed completely.
reference to their individual and collective attitude toward The Merid-
ian Dispatch, per Sc, but only in the sense that THEIR ATTITUDE
TOWARD THIS NEWSPAPER, IN THAT CONNECTION, REPRE-
SENTED THEIR ATTITUDE TOWARD THEIR GOVERNMENT.
1t was indicative of their state of mind.
1t was prophetic of what vas to come-of what has come within
the past two or three weeks in that neghborhood.
Significant it is that the first lame on the list attached to the
foregoing resolutions WI that of F. S. Chisholm, at whose place, it
was alleged, these draft evaders had been harbored. Albert Join
er,s name is there, too. MANY of the other names O the list are
just as significant, but, as before stated, they are now charltably
withheld from publication.
While we have absolutely n o tolerance for o sympathy with any
MAI o r woman, who il not, in these times, heart and soul WITH AND
FOR THE UNITED STATES, yet we confess to a great deal of char
ity for these particular people of the Iron Springs section.
You may say that there is 10 xcu for their attitude.
Very true.
But remember this: The thing that makes you a good citizen,
FRIEND, is the fact that you have been trained right; that you have read
the right kind of literature; that you have admitted patriotic newspa-
prs to your home; that you have sought and found THE TRUTH-and
the truth has "made you free"
The moral stamina of a people, the strength of their citizenship,
their LOYALTY to the nation n a time of trial, all depend upon the senti
ments which have created in their minds and hearts by the things they
read.
So much more reason for the circulation of patriotic newspapers
and the suppression of the sedtious sort.
These Iron Springs people simply read the wrong sort of stuff.
Later the United Government realized the peril of this spread of mis-
information and prejudice, and promptly shut off the source of it.
But, in the meanwhile, many minds had become impregnated with
the poison of political .disloyaty.
To the extent that their attitude was the product of this condi
ton. they are entitled to charitable consideration, PROVIDED. they
have now seen the light and will Loyalty set themselves right.
And, be it remembered, that Neshoba county a a whole, which is