The sun., 1918-08-12
VARDAMAN' SRECORD
MAY CAUSE DEFEAT
One Time Idol of Mississippi
Farmers Is Busy Explain
ing His Acts.
YELLOW PAINT IS USED
Harrison and Noel Boast They
Are Hundred Per Cent.
American.


JACKSON. Miss, Aug. 1.-THE Seua-
torial campaign in Mississippi, now on In
carr est, is OF more than local interest
the Issue being Wilson" or "Varda-
man"
There are three candidates for the
Scnate-Ex-Gov. E. F. Noel Of Lexing-
ton Pat Harrison Of Gulfport, now Con-
gresham from the Sixth, or Seacoast,
district, and James K Nardaman OF
jackson, present incumbent, and one Of
the "wilful twelve"
Until Congress had recessed and Sen
ator Vardaman and Mr.. Harrison had
returned home. there was no interest
manifested in the contest 1t seemed
tia: the voters had made up their minds
What they were going TO do and were
ousy attending to their own business.
Such apathy was new here. Nobody
talked politics and there was no politi-
cal gathering anywhere except In the
Harrison district, where Gov. Bilbo had
been campaigning for two or more
months in an effort to go to Congress-.
and where he Is meeting very strong
and persistent opposition. Now. how
ever. Fardaman and Harrison are maxi
ing three speeches a day.
For the first time In his career Sena-
tor Varda man finds himself on the de-
fehsive. His record is being assailed
from every angle. Harrison and Noel
are both 100 per cent. Americans. They
do not have to prove 1t as 1t has never
been questioned. Mr.. Vardaman. as a
matter OF course. has also jumped into
the American band wagon. He asserts
he is as patriotic as any man that ever
no. nQtt M ~
that short. usly word In referring to
those who charge him with pro-Ge-nan-
Ism.
vardaman Loses Temper.
The fact OF the business Is that Var
daman is angry. He has lost his tenn
PER, and therefore his head. His speeches
ARE filled to overlooking with bitter de-
nunciation Of every man who dares
TO oppose him or who questions his
patriotism. His chief opponent. MIR.
Harrison. Is referred TO as a man whose
bra in is barren waste Of sterile mem
tally"
Replying TO this Vardamanesque Ian
guage Mr.. Harrison said at Crystal
Springs: Il will not argue with the Sem
stor, as It is purely matter OF opin-
ION; but I thank God that throughout
the past four years when the acid test
has been put to men in public office my
heart has been 100 per cent. American"
At this an audience of 1000 people
yelled themselves hoarse, being quick
to see the inference.
To win. Il seems that Mr.. Vardaman
must have a hobby. He had s,raddled
the back of the negro four years pre-
vious when he was a candidate for Gov
ernor and was elected. The poorer class
Of white people had listened to him
when he declared he was going to dis
believed him when he told them he was
going to amend or repeal the Fourteenth
and Fifteenth Amendments of the Con-
st!tution OF the United States and that
he would see that the negro got his
schooling only from the taxes he paid
into the State Treasury AS a matter
OF course he did none Of these things
served his purpose and he was elected
Governor without the assistance of the
great majority OF the more intelligent
people OF the State.
But this time Mr. Eardaman can use
none OF his old campaign thunder. The
negro Is no longer a factor and the
secret caucus has been worked to a
finish. Vardaman Is now backed into
a corner and forced to defend his rec
ord. He appreciates the fact that he
is up against the fight of his life. and is
/ throwing gas shells into the Harrison
and the Noel camps